DBU (12-9, 2-1 CUSA) vs. DELAWARE (9-12, 0-3 CUSA)
March 20-22 | Newark, DE | Bob Hannah Stadium

GAME NOTES
 
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: Patriot Broadcasting Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Instagram: @dbu_baseball
Twitter/X: @DBU_Baseball
Facebook: DBU Baseball
 
DBU BASEBALL ON THE AIR
In his 15th season on the air, Reagan Ratcliff delivers all the action from Bob Hannah Stadium alongside Ryan Wilson. An audio broadcast of every DBU road game is streamed live on the Patriot Broadcasting Network.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday
DBU: RHP Russ Smith (2-1 W-L, 7.29 ERA, 21.0 IP, 23 SO, 10 BB)
vs.
UD: RHP Ryan McLaughlin (1-1 W-L, 4.26 ERA, 19.0 IP, 16 SO, 6 BB)
 
Saturday
DBU: RHP Jared Schaeffer (2-0 W-L, 5.64 ERA, 22.1 IP, 16 SO, 10 BB)
vs.
UD: RHP Doug Marose (1-2 W-L, 9.49 ERA, 12.1 IP, 5 SO, 7 BB)
 
Sunday
DBU: RHP Ryan Borberg (0-1 W-L, 5.79 ERA, 14.0 IP, 10 SO, 8 BB)
vs.
UD: RHP Chase Deibler (1-1 W-L, 3.94 ERA, 16.0 IP, 10 SO, 8 BB)
 
LEADING OFF
HIGH-SCORING WIN: DBU comes off a 16-10 win in an offensive battle against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Tuesday.
RUNS KEEP COMING: With 16 runs scored on Tuesday, the Patriots have scored at least 14 runs in 4 straight games.
MULTI-HIT DAYS: In Tuesday's win, five Patriots recorded multiple hits, led by Cooper Neville's three hits and Ben Tryon's two home runs.
 
TOP STORYLINES
FIRST-TIME FOES: DBU travels to Newark, Delaware, for its first meeting with CUSA newcomer, the Delaware Blue Hens.
SLUGGING OFFENSE: The Patriots have displayed one of the most powerful offenses in the country, belting 46 home runs (3rd in the nation), slugging .569 (11th), and scoring 9.8 runs per game (16th).
PATIENCE AT THE PLATE: In addition to its power, DBU has displayed premier patience at the plate, drawing the most walks of any team in CUSA (124). Jake Bennett is 3rd in the league with 19 walks, and Cooper Neville is 86th with 18 free passes.
HOME RUN THREATS: Four Patriots are among the top 10 home run leaders in CUSA: Jake Bennett (11, 1st), Ryan Martin (7, 3rd), Chayton Krauss (6, 6th), and Cooper Neville (6, 6th). DBU is the only team in the conference with more than 2 players in the top 10 in home runs.
SLUGGING MACHINES: Four Patriots are currently among the top 20 in CUSA in slugging percentage: Jake Bennett (.888, 1st), Cooper Neville (.726, 4th), Ben Tryon (.671, 9th), and Ryan Martin (.603, 15th). DBU is the only team in the league with 4 players in the top 15 in slugging percentage.
CATCHING FIRE: In the last four games, Cooper Neville leads DBU with 10 hits in 15 at-bats, and combines with Jake Bennett, Chayton Krauss, Luke Pettitte, and Ben Tryon for a total of 12 home runs and 48 RBI.
CONSISTENT THREATS: Going back to last season, Jake Bennett has a career-best 29-game on-base streak, and Cooper Neville has reached base in 20 consecutive games with a plate appearance.
POWER + AVERAGE: Jake Bennett (1.426), Cooper Neville (1.262), Ben Tryon (1.151), and Ryan Martin (1.024) each own OPS marks above 1.000. Neville (.403 batting average) and Bennett (.388) are also the top two leaders in batting average in CUSA.
RED-HOT RELIEVER: Liam Watt has emerged as the premier arm out of the Patriot bullpen, with a 1.78 ERA (4th in CUSA) and a 1.03 WHIP (4th).
PHENOMENAL FIELDING: The Patriots' defense is 6th in the nation in fielding percentage with a .985 clip. Everyday infielders Chayton Krauss has yet to commit an error in 157 chances, and DBU infielders as a group have committed only five errors.
 
SCOUTING DELAWARE
RUN-RULE WIN ON WEDNESDAY: After suffering a sweep by Louisiana Tech to open CUSA play, the Blue Hens avenged the loss with an 18-0 run-rule victory against St. Joe's on Wednesday.
HEAVY HITTERS: Hitting .254 as a team, Evan Bouldin is 7th in CUSA with a .377 batting average and Anthony Charles is 10th with a .366 rate.
POWER FROM BOULDIN: Evan Bouldin has showcased the most power of any of the Blue Hen hitters, slugging .675 (8th in CUSA) and crushing 6 home runs (6th).
LOTS OF OPTIONS: Delaware has used 17 different pitchers this season, and 14 of them have made at least 4 appearances.
FIELDING FUMBLES: The Blue Hens have struggled in the field at times, committing a CUSA-high 29 errors for a .960 fielding percentage.
 
SERIES HISTORY
DBU and Delaware will meet for the first time this weekend.
 
ON DECK
DBU heads back to Dallas for a five-game homestand beginning on Tuesday, March 24. The Patriots play host to TCU at 6:35 p.m. at Horner Ballpark.