DBU (25-19, 14-7 CUSA) vs. ABILENE CHRISTIAN (21-22, 4-5 WAC)
April 28 | Abilene, TX | Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers 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 his 15th season on the air, Reagan Ratcliff delivers all the action alongside Ryan Wilson from Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Ballpark with an audio broadcast on the Patriot Broadcasting Network.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
DBU: RHP Tate Hess (1-0 W-L, 6.59 ERA, 13.2 IP, 10 SO, 4 BB)
vs.
ACU: LHP Collin Adams (1-3 W-L, 6.97 ERA, 10.1 IP, 8 SO, 8 BB)
 
LEADING OFF
CUSA SERIES WIN: DBU took its sixth of seven Conference USA series over the weekend, winning two of three games against FIU.
HOME-RUN BARRAGE: The Patriots hit 11 home runs in the series against FIU, matching DBU's most homers in a series this season (March 13-15 versus New Mexico State).
SEVEN-HIT TRIO: Over the three-game weekend series, 3 Patriots recorded 7 hits: Jake Bennett (7-15, 4 HR), Cooper Neville (7-13, 2 2B, HR), and Brooks Sartain (7-13, 2B, HR).
 
TOP STORYLINES
SLUGGING OFFENSE: Averaging 8.4 runs per game, the Patriots boast one of the most powerful offenses in the country, belting 89 home runs (6th in the nation) and slugging .536 (15th). Their 89 home runs are currently the 7th-most by a team in program history.
RECORD-PACE HOME RUN RATE: DBU's average of 2.02 home runs per game currently ranks as the best pace in school history. The program record of 1.92 home runs per contest was set in 2024.
HOME RUN THREATS: Jake Bennett is in the CUSA for the most home runs with 15. He is joined in the league's top 10 by Chayton Krauss (13, 3rd), Ryan Martin (12, 6th), and Luke Pettitte (11, 7th). DBU is the only team in CUSA with 4 players with 10 or more home runs.
EXTRA-BASE MACHINES: Three Patriots are currently among the top 25 in CUSA in slugging percentage: Dylan Schlaegel (.619, 3rd), Cooper Neville (.571, 15th), Ryan Martin (.555, 22nd), and Chayton Krauss (.554, 23rd).
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 (11), RBI (34), total bases (74), slugging percentage (.698), and OPS (1.085). The junior also leads CUSA in conference games in home runs (10), total bases (62), and slugging percentage (.775).
OFFENSIVE SPARK: Brooks Sartain has elevated the Patriot offense with a 12-19 stretch over the last 5 games, including 4 multi-hit games, 2 doubles, and 2 home runs.
GETTING ON BASE: Jake Bennett has reached base in 38 straight games, dating back to last season, and Chayton Krauss owns a 20-game on-base streak. Krauss is also on a 13-game hitting streak, and Cooper Neville has a 12-game hitting streak.
CHAYTON CHASING HISTORY: Already just the 4th Patriot ever with 200 career hits and 40 home runs, Chayton Krauss continues to climb the charts in DBU's record book. His 44 home runs are 5th all-time, and his 185 RBI are 4th. He needs 10 more homers to move into solo 2nd place behind Grant Jay (61) and 5 RBI for sole possession of 2nd place behind Jason Krizan (231). If he reaches 200 RBI, he would join Jason Krizan as the only players in DBU history with 200 hits, 200 RBI, and 40 home runs.
RELIEF FROM THE BULLPEN: Michael Benzor and Max Luzarraga have developed into two of the most reliable arms out of the DBU bullpen. Luzarraga leads all Patriot relievers with a 2.93 ERA and has not allowed an earned run in his last 7 appearances (9.1 innings). Benzor is second among the bullpen arms with a 3.21 ERA and has surrendered a run in only 4 of his 15 outings.
PHENOMENAL FIELDING: The Patriots' defense is 22nd in the nation in fielding percentage with a .979 clip. At its current rate, DBU has the 2nd-best fielding percentage in school history behind the record of .982 set in 2024.
 
SCOUTING ABILENE CHRISTIAN
WAC WIN: ACU comes off a two-win weekend where the Wildcats took a WAC series against UT Arlington.
LEAGUE-LEADING OFFENSE: ACU boasts one of the strongest offenses in the WAC, leading the league in home runs (74) and slugging percentage (.499).
POWER DUO: Diego Cardenas and Grant Watkins have both homered 18 times this season, which tops the WAC and ranks 11th in the country.
THREE ABOVE .300: Three Wildcats are hitting above .300: Zandt Payne (.341), JT Thompson (.328), and Diego Cardenas (.316).
ADAMS ON THE BUMP: Collin Adams is set to make his seventh appearance and fourth start of the season. He owns a 1-3 record and a 6.97 ERA.
 
SERIES HISTORY
DBU is 24-11-2 all-time versus Abilene Christian in a series that dates back to 1993. DBU has won four of the last five meetings with ACU, including a 12-3 triumph on February 17.
 
ON DECK
DBU returns to Horner Ballpark this weekend for a home series against Louisiana Tech. First pitch of game one is slated for Friday, May 1, at 6:35 p.m.