DBU (16-12, 6-3 CUSA) vs. OKLAHOMA STATE (17-11, 3-6 B12)
March 31 | Dallas, TX | Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark

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 their 15th season on the air, Reagan Ratcliff and Brendan Smith deliver all the action from Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark. All Patriot home games stream live on ESPN+, and an additional audio broadcast is available on the Patriot Broadcasting Network.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
DBU: LHP Aiden VanDeHatert (0-0 W-L, 5.23 ERA, 10.1 IP, 16 SO, 3 BB)
vs.
OSU: LHP TP Wentworth (1-0 W-L, 5.79 ERA, 9.1 IP, 9 SO, 8 BB)
 
LEADING OFF
THREE CUSA SERIES WINS: Taking two of three games against Missouri State over the weekend, DBU has won all three of its Conference USA series this season.
BULLPEN SHUTOUTS: The Patriot bullpen did not allow a run in DBU's two wins versus the Bears.
FIRST START FOR VANDEHATERT: Aiden VanDeHatert is scheduled to make his first career start on the mound. He has not allowed a run to score in his last three appearances.
 
TOP STORYLINES
MIDWEEK REMATCH: DBU completes a two-game set against Oklahoma State for the season, looking to avenge a 6-5 extra-innings loss on March 10.
NINE STRAIGHT CUSA SERIES WINS: With their series win versus Missouri State, the Patriots have won nine straight CUSA series, going back to last season.
SLUGGING OFFENSE: The Patriots boast one of the most powerful offenses in the country, belting 55 home runs (4th in the nation), slugging .534 (16th), and scoring 8.8 runs per game (19th).
PATIENCE AT THE PLATE: In addition to its power, DBU has displayed premier patience at the plate, drawing 157 walks to lead CUSA. Cooper Neville is sixth in the league with 22 walks.
HOME RUN THREATS: Five Patriots are among the top 20 home run leaders in CUSA: Jake Bennett (11, 1st), Ryan Martin (8, 7th), Chayton Krauss (7, 9th), Ben Tryon (7, 9th), and Cooper Neville (5, 18th). DBU is the only team in the conference with more than 3 players in the top 10 in home runs.
EXTRA-BASE MACHINES: Four Patriots are currently among the top 20 in CUSA in slugging percentage: Jake Bennett (.819, 1st), Cooper Neville (.596, 15th), Ryan Martin (.583, 17th), and Ben Tryon (.570, 20th). DBU is the only team in the league with 4 players in the top 20 in slugging percentage.
ABOVE 1.000 OPS: Jake Bennett (1.339, 1st in CUSA), Cooper Neville (1.092, 5th), Ryan Martin (1.012, 16th), and Ben Tryon (1.003, 18th) each own OPS marks above 1.000. They are the only four players from the same team within the top 20 of CUSA's leaders in OPS.
CONSISTENT THREAT: Cooper Neville has reached base in 27 consecutive games with a plate appearance and rides a 12-game hitting streak.
POWER FROM PETTITTE: Luke Pettitte has been a sparkplug for the Patriots since settling in as the everyday designated hitter. Since his first start at DH on March 14, he tops DBU in home runs (6), total bases (33), slugging percentage (.943), and RBI (18).
THE 200/40 CLUB: With 196 career hits and 38 career home runs, Chayton Krauss is 4 hits and 2 homers away from becoming only the fourth Patriot in history to record 200 hits and 40 home runs, and he would be the only player in school history to do so in 3 seasons. He is already tied for eighth all-time in career home runs.
TALENTED TRIO: Michael Benzor, Avery Duncan, and Athan Kroll have found a rhythm in their last few outings. Benzor leads the bullpen with a 3.00 ERA and has allowed only one run in his last eight appearances. Duncan had a streak of five consecutive appearances without allowing a run before Missouri State scored twice against him in his last outing, and Kroll has allowed no runs and only one hit in his last three appearances.
ELITE FIELDING: The Patriots' defense is 12th in the nation in fielding percentage with a .983 clip. Everyday infielder Chayton Krauss has yet to commit an error in 179 chances this season and has not committed an error in 506 chances since his last mishap on March 14, 2025.
 
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE
CLOSE CALLS: Oklahoma State dropped two of three games to BYU last weekend, with both losses coming by only one run.
HOME RUN POP: The Cowboys have hit 48 home runs this season, the second-most in the Big 12 and the 14^th-most in the country.
LETHAL BAT: Kollin Ritchie owns one of the best bats in the country. He is 2nd in the nation with 16 home runs, 6th with 44 RBI, and 13th with a .840 slugging percentage. He went 1-for-5 against DBU on March 10.
STRIKEOUT STUFF: OSU's pitching staff has struck out 291 batters and averages 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings (22nd in the nation).
WENTWORTH ON THE MOUND: Two-way player TP Wentworth is scheduled to make his third start of the season. He has a 5.79 ERA in 9.1 innings and is third on the team with a .300 batting average and .571 slugging percentage.
  
SERIES HISTORY
DBU is 12-17 all-time versus Oklahoma State in a series that dates back to 1970. In their Division I era, the Patriots are 12-15 against the Cowboys. In their last meeting on March 10, OSU defeated DBU 6-5 in extra innings in Stillwater.
 
ON DECK
The Patriots are back on the road this week with a CUSA series at Kennesaw State. Game one of the series is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, at 5:00 p.m. CT.