DBU (22-15, 11-4 CUSA) vs. #25 LIBERTY (26-10, 11-4 CUSA)
April 17-19 | 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 DBU home games are streamed live on ESPN+ with an additional audio broadcast on the Patriot Broadcasting Network.

PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday
DBU: LHP Liam Watt (5-1 W-L, 3.19 ERA, 48.0 IP, 35 SO, 9 BB)
vs.
LU: RHP Ben Blair (5-2 W-L, 2.44 ERA, 55.1 IP, 71 SO, 15 BB)
 
Saturday
DBU: RHP Ryan Borberg (0-1 W-L, 5.79 ERA, 32.2 IP, 24 SO, 15 BB)
vs.
LU: RHP Jaxon Lucas (2-1 W-L, 1.05 ERA, 40.0 IP, 29 SO, 14 BB)
 
Sunday
DBU: LHP Jared Schaeffer (4-0 W-L, 5.27 ERA, 41.0 IP, 33 SO, 15 BB)
vs.
LU: RHP Bradley Zayac (5-0 W-L, 1.61 ERA, 50.1 IP, 46 SO, 9 BB)
 
LEADING OFF
FOUR IN A ROW: DBU gathered its fourth straight win on Tuesday with a 10-5 triumph over UT Arlington.
INTO THE RECORD BOOKS: With his 2-run blast in the 6th inning on Tuesday, Chayton Krauss entered the exclusive 200-40 club, becoming only the 4th player in program history to record 200 career hits and 40 career home runs and the first to do it in 3 seasons.
STRONG SIX: In Tuesday's win, the first 6 batters in the Patriot lineup—Dylan Cupp, Luke Pettitte, Ben Tryon, Ryan Martin, Chayton Krauss, and Cooper Neville—went a combined 11-25 with 9 runs, 8 RBI, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, and 2 walks. Pettitte, Tryon, and Krauss each had multi-hit games also.
 
TOP STORYLINES
BATTLE AT THE TOP: DBU hosts Liberty for a key Conference USA series, with the teams tied for third in the league standings at 11-4 in CUSA and two games back of first-place Jacksonville State.
SLUGGING OFFENSE: Averaging 8.4 runs per game, the Patriots boast one of the most powerful offenses in the country, belting 73 home runs (8th in the nation) and slugging .532 (16th).
RECORD-PACE HOME RUN RATE: DBU's average of 1.97 home runs per game currently ranks as the best pace in program history. The 2024 squad set the current program record at 1.92 home runs per contest.
HOME RUN THREATS: Seven Patriots had hit at least 7 home runs, good for a slot among the top 15 leaders in CUSA: Ryan Martin (12, 1st), Jake Bennett (11, 2nd), Chayton Krauss (9, 9th), Luke Pettitte (8, 11th), Adam Berghult (7, 15th), Dylan Schlaegel (7, 15th), and Ben Tryon (7, 15th). DBU is the only team in the conference with at least 5 players in the top 15 in home runs.
EXTRA-BASE MACHINES: Three Patriots are currently among the top 20 in CUSA in slugging percentage: Dylan Schlaegel (.640, 1st), Ryan Martin (.607, 10th), and Cooper Neville (.576, 16th).
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 (8), RBI (25), total bases (57), and slugging percentage (.770). The junior also leads CUSA in conference games in home runs (7), total bases (46), and slugging percentage (.868).
PATIENCE AT THE PLATE: In addition to its power, DBU has displayed premier patience at the plate, drawing 197 walks, the second-most in CUSA.
THE 200-40 CLUB: With 200 career hits and 40 career home runs, Chayton Krauss is only the 4th Patriot in history to record 200 hits and 40 home runs. He is the 17th player in program history to reach 200 hits and the 7th to eclipse the mark in 3 seasons. Already tied for 5th all-time in career home runs, he is the only player in school history to join the 200-40 club in 3 seasons.
KROLL CLOSES THE DOOR: Athan Kroll has emerged as the closer for the Patriots with 7 saves, the 12th-most in the country and 2nd-most in CUSA. Over his last 7 appearances, he has recorded 6 straight saves and has allowed only 1 run in 9.2 innings for a 0.93 ERA in those outings.
PHENOMENAL FIELDING: The Patriots' defense is 16th in the nation in fielding percentage with a .982 clip. At its current rate, DBU will tie the program fielding percentage record set in 2024.
CONSISTENT KRAUSS: Everyday infielder Chayton Krauss has yet to commit an error in 227 chances this season and has not committed an error in 554 chances since his last miscue on March 14, 2025.
 
SCOUTING LIBERTY
THREE STRAIGHT WINS: The Flames won their third straight game with a 17-7 victory against Duke on Tuesday, preceded by back-to-back wins against Jacksonville State to win their series with the Gamecocks.
CHASING HISTORY: With a 26-10 record, Liberty has its best record through 36 games since 2021, when it won 41 contests as a member of the ASUN. The program record for wins in a season is 43, set in 2019.
HIGH IN RPI: The Flames are currently No. 21 in the RPI rankings. The program's best end-of-season RPI ranking was No. 31 in 2022.
PITCHING PROWESS: Liberty has showcased one of the best pitching staffs in CUSA, topping the conference in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.75), walks allowed per nine innings (3.58), and WHIP (1.27). The Flames are also 2nd in the league in ERA (4.46) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.9).
FRIDAY-NIGHT ACE: CUSA Preseason Pitcher of the Year Ben Blair has been one of the most dominant starters in the country. Leading the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 14.20, Blair is also 2nd nationally in WHIP (0.78) and 3rd in walks allowed per nine innings (0.81). He is also 2nd in CUSA in strikeouts (71) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.55), plus 4th in the league in ERA (2.44) and hits allowed per nine innings (6.18).
ANOTHER ACE: East Carolina transfer Bradley Zayac is also one of the best arms around, with a 1.61 ERA (9th in the nation) and 0.91 WHIP.
.300 HITTERS: Three players for the Flames are hitting above .300: Tanner Marsh (.338), Jordan Jaffe (.319), and Nick Barone (.313). Baron is the team-leader in home runs (8), RBI (35), and slugging percentage (.609).
 
SERIES HISTORY
DBU is 6-1 all-time versus Liberty in a series that dates back to 2024. The Patriots won three of four meetings with the Flames last season, taking two of three in the regular season and winning the Conference USA Tournament opener between the two squads.
 
ON DECK
DBU begins its season-long five-game road stretch next week, starting with TCU on April 21 at 6:00 p.m. at Lupton Stadium.