DBU (13-12, 6-3 CUSA) vs. KENNESAW STATE (14-11, 5-4 CUSA)
April 2-4 | Kennesaw, GA | Mickey Dunn 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 Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark alongside Ryan Wilson. An audio broadcast of every DBU road game is streamed live on the Patriot Broadcasting Network.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday
DBU: LHP Liam Watt (4-1 W-L, 2.48 ERA, 36.1 IP, 28 SO, 5 BB)
vs.
KSU: RHP Cooper McMullen (2-2 W-L, 4.06 ERA, 31.0 IP, 19 SO, 16 BB)
 
Friday
DBU: RHP Jared Schaeffer (3-0 W-L, 4.36 ERA, 33.0 IP, 25 SO, 12 BB)
vs.
KSU: RHP Jayden Summerville (0-1 W-L, 3.86 ERA, 16.1 IP, 20 SO, 6 BB)
 
Saturday
DBU: TBA
vs.
KSU: TBA
 
LEADING OFF
COMING OFF A MIDWEEK LOSS: DBU enters its fourth Conference USA series following a 14-5 loss to Oklahoma State on Tuesday.
SEASON-HIGH IN STRIKEOUTS: The Patriots threw a season-high 17 strikeouts on Tuesday.
TOP 5 CLICKING: The first five bats in DBU's lineup on Tuesday (Dylan Cupp, Ben Tryon, Luke Pettitte, Chayton Krauss, and Ryan Martin) went a combined 10-for-25 with 5 runs, 3 RBI, 2 home runs, and 4 walks.
 
TOP STORYLINES
CHASING FIRST: With a 6-3 league record, DBU sits in a three-way tie for second place in Conference USA with Liberty and Missouri State, three games behind Jacksonville State at 9-0.
NINE STRAIGHT CUSA SERIES WINS: With their series win versus Missouri State last weekend, the Patriots have won all three of their CUSA series this season and nine straight CUSA series, going back to 2025.
SLUGGING OFFENSE: The Patriots boast one of the most powerful offenses in the country, belting 57 home runs (5th in the nation), slugging .532 (17th), and scoring 8.7 runs per game (26th).
PATIENCE AT THE PLATE: In addition to its power, DBU has displayed premier patience at the plate, drawing 162 walks to lead CUSA. Cooper Neville is 8th in the league with 22 walks.
HOME RUN THREATS: Five Patriots are among the top 10 home run leaders in CUSA: Jake Bennett (11, 1st), Ryan Martin (9, 3rd), Chayton Krauss (7, 9th), Ben Tryon (7, 9th), and Luke Pettitte (7, 9th). 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 25 in CUSA in slugging percentage: Jake Bennett (.819, 1st), Ryan Martin (.617, 10th), Cooper Neville (.581, 19th), and Ben Tryon (.559, 23rd). DBU and Missouri State are the only two teams 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 (1.068, 8th), and Ryan Martin (1.060, 9th) each own OPS marks above 1.000. They are the only trio of teammates within the top 10 of CUSA's leaders in OPS.
CONSISTENT THREAT: Cooper Neville has reached base in 28 consecutive games with a plate appearance and rides a career-high 13-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 (7), total bases (38), RBI (20), slugging percentage (.950), and OPS (1.418).
THE 200/40 CLUB: With 197 career hits and 38 career home runs, Chayton Krauss is 3 hits and 2 homers away from becoming only the fourth Patriot in history to record 200 hits and 40 home runs. Already tied for eighth all-time in career home runs, he would be the only player in school history to do so in three seasons.
WATT AT THE FRONT OF THE ROTATION: Liam Watt is scheduled to make his second Friday start and third overall start of the season. He heads the DBU pitching staff with a 2.48 ERA (6th in CUSA), 28 strikeouts (1st), 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings (5th), and a 1.74 strikeout-to-walk ratio (8th).
ELITE FIELDING: The Patriots' defense is 10th in the nation in fielding percentage with a .984 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 KENNESAW STATE
WINNING STREAK SNAPPED: The Owls enter the series after having their five-game winning streak broken by a loss to Mercer on Tuesday. The winning streak included a win against No. 4 Georgia and a sweep of Delaware.
FOUR ABOVE .300: Hitting .273 as a team, KSU is led by four players with batting averages over .300: Jackson Chirello (.365), Cooper Williams (.348), James McGee (.314), and Grayson McCollum (.302).
BIG BAT FROM CHIRELLO: Jackson Chirello has developed into one of CUSA's premier hitters, sitting 6th in the conference in batting average (.365), 2nd in slugging percentage (.667), and 8th in doubles (9).
MCMULLEN AT THE FRONT: Friday starter Cooper McMullen is the anchor of the Owls' pitching rotation, leading the team with seven starts and 31.0 innings while posting a 4.06 ERA.
RELIABLE RELIEF: Junior Daniel Powell has established himself as one of the most versatile relievers in CUSA, boasting a 1.98 ERA (5th in CUSA), 4.94 hits allowed per nine innings (2nd), 4 wins (2nd), and 4 saves (1st).
 
SERIES HISTORY
DBU is 3-1 all-time versus Kennesaw State in a series that dates back to 1994. The Patriots are 3-0 against the Owls in DBU's Division I era. DBU swept KSU in a weekend series last season, the first games between the programs as Division I members.
 
ON DECK
The Patriots are back in Dallas on Monday, April 6, for their second of two meetings with Oklahoma. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m. at Horner Ballpark.