DBU (9-7, 0-0 CUSA) vs. OKLAHOMA STATE (11-4, 0-0 BIG 12)
March 10 | Stillwater, OK | O'Brate 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
Reagan Ratcliff and Ryan Wilson deliver all the action from O'Brate Stadium to Patriot fans. Every DBU road game is streamed live on the Patriot Broadcasting Network.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
DBU: RHP Jerrod Jenkins (1-1 W-L, 9.00 ERA, 12.0 IP, 15 SO, 8 BB)
vs.
OSU: RHP Kai Fyke (1-0 W-L, 3.97 ERA, 11.1 IP, 5 SO, 3 BB)
 
LEADING OFF
STORMING BACK: After dropping the first two games of a weekend series to Louisiana, DBU run-ruled the Ragin' Cajuns on Sunday, 12-1.
MARTIN AND TRYON SHINE: Ryan Martin found a groove offensively over the weekend, going 5-for-11 with 2 home runs, 8 RBI, and 4 runs. Ben Tryon fared similarly, going 5-for-11 with 1 home run, 1 double, and 4 runs.
GRAND SLAMS: Ryan Martin and Dylan Cupp hit grand slams in back-to-back games for the Patriots.
 
TOP STORYLINES
QUICK ROAD TRIP: In the middle of a stretch where DBU plays seven of eight games at home, the Patriots make a midweek trip to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for a matchup against Oklahoma State.
DANGEROUS OFFENSE: The Patriots boast one of the best offenses in Conference USA in the young season, holding second in the league in runs per game (8.5), batting average (.296), on-base percentage (.413), slugging percentage (.536), OPS (.949), and home runs (30).
PLAYING THE LONG BALL: DBU's 30 home runs are the 11th-most in the country. The Patriots have launched 14 long balls over their last 5 games, including grand slams in back-to-back games courtesy of Ryan Martin and Dylan Cupp.
PATIENCE AT THE PLATE: DBU hitters have drawn the most walks of any team in CUSA (91). Jake Bennett is fourth in the league with 15 walks, and Cooper Neville is fifth with 13 walks.
CONSISTENT THREATS: Going back to last season, Jake Bennett has a career-best 24-game on-base streak, and Cooper Neville has reached base in 15 consecutive games with a plate appearance. Meanwhile, Ben Tryon has a career-high 13-game hitting streak.
POWER QUARTET: Four Patriots are currently among the top 20 in CUSA in slugging percentage: Jake Bennett (.750, 1st), Ben Tryon (.667, 10th), Ryan Martin (.621, 15th), and Cooper Neville (.591, 19th).
SETTING THE TONE: Jake Bennett is one of CUSA's top power bats, leading the league in home runs (7) and slugging percentage (.750) while sitting second in total bases (45).
CONSISTENCY IS KEY: Jake Bennett, Cooper Neville, and Ben Tryon are each hitting over .300 with on-base percentages north of .470 and slugging percentages better than .590.
EMERGING ARM: Liam Watt has emerged as the premier arm out of the Patriot bullpen, with team-bests in ERA (1.06) and WHIP (1.06) plus 11 strikeouts opposite 4 walks in 17.0 innings.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE: The Patriots' defense is 11th in the nation in fielding percentage with a .986 clip. Everyday infielders Dylan Cupp and Chayton Krauss have yet to commit an error this season.
 
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE
STILL ROLLING: Oklahoma State took two of three games from Gardner-Webb over the weekend. The Cowboys' loss on Friday snapped an eight-game winning streak.
ALWAYS SLUGGING: The OSU bats have hit 30 home runs through 15 games, the 11th-most in the country, and their team slugging percentage of .549 is 16th in the nation.
POWER BATS: With five players hitting above .300, Kollin Ritchie is the primary source of home runs for the Cowboys. Ritchie is 3rd nationally in both home runs (11) and RBI (31).
STRIKEOUT STUFF: OSU pitchers strike out an average of 11.3 batters per nine innings (22nd in the nation).
HELP IN THE BACKEND: Noah Wech has surfaced as the closer for the Cowboys, with a team-high four saves. He has surrendered only one run in six appearances and 11.1 innings.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Dating back to 1970, DBU is 12-16 all-time against OSU and 12-14 in its Division I era. The Patriots and the Cowboys split a pair of midweek contests last season. DBU had five straight wins versus OSU until the Cowboys won on April 22 last season.
 
ON DECK
The Patriots head back to Dallas to start a four-game homestand and open Conference USA play. DBU will battle New Mexico State in a three-game series starting on Friday, March 13, at 6:35 p.m. at Horner Ballpark.