DBU (18-14, 8-4 CUSA) vs. OKLAHOMA (21-10, 5-7 CUSA)
April 6 | 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 (0-1 W-L, 6.08 ERA, 13.1 IP, 21 SO, 5 BB)
vs.
OU: RHP Michael Catalano (2-2 W-L, 5.19 ERA, 17.1 IP, 21 SO, 5 BB)
 
LEADING OFF
ANOTHER SERIES WIN: Taking two of three against Kennesaw State, DBU has won all four of its Conference USA series and 10 straight CUSA series, dating back to last season.
STRIKEOUT STUFF: The Patriot pitching staff threw at least 10 strikeouts in all three games against Kennesaw and has notched at least 10 punchouts in four straight games. Over four games last week, DBU's 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings were the most of any team in the nation.
TOP-TO-BOTTOM PRODUCTION: In two of the Patriots' three games over the weekend, eight of DBU's nine starting batters recorded a hit.
 
TOP STORYLINES
SLUGGING OFFENSE: The Patriots boast one of the most powerful offenses in the country, belting 62 home runs (9th in the nation), slugging .528 (19th), and scoring 8.5 runs per game (26th).
PATIENCE AT THE PLATE: In addition to its power, DBU has displayed premier patience at the plate, drawing 178 walks to lead CUSA. Ben Tryon is 10th in the league with 23 walks.
HOME RUN THREATS: Five Patriots are among the top 15 home run leaders in CUSA: Jake Bennett (11, 1st), Ryan Martin (10, 3rd), Luke Pettitte (8, 8th), Chayton Krauss (7, 11th), and Ben Tryon (7, 11th). DBU and Missouri State are the only teams in the conference with 4 players in the top 15 in home runs.
EXTRA-BASE MACHINES: Three Patriots are currently among the top 25 in CUSA in slugging percentage: Jake Bennett (.819, 1st), Ryan Martin (.605, 9th), and Ben Tryon (.545, 23rd). Cooper Neville is narrowly outside the top 25 with a .543 slugging percentage that ranks 26th in the league.
ABOVE 1.000 OPS: Jake Bennett (1.339, 1st in CUSA), Ryan Martin (1.033, 11th), and Cooper Neville (1.001, 15th) each own OPS marks above 1.000.
CONSISTENT THREAT: Cooper Neville has reached base in 30 of his 31 starts this season. His 15-game hitting streak and 30-game on-base streak were snapped on Saturday.
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), total bases (49), RBI (24), slugging percentage (.925), and OPS (1.370). The junior also leads CUSA in conference games in home runs (7), total bases (41), RBI (18), and slugging percentage (1.000).
THE 200/40 CLUB: With 199 career hits and 38 career home runs, Chayton Krauss is 1 hit and 2 homers away from becoming only the fourth Patriot in history to record 200 hits and 40 home runs. He would be the 17th player in program history to reach 200 hits and the 7th to eclipse the mark in 3 seasons. 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.
CLOSING THE DOOR: The DBU bullpen has not allowed a run in four of the last seven games.
VANDEHATERT ON THE BUMP: Aiden VanDeHatert is scheduled to make his second start of the season. In his first start against Oklahoma State on March 31, he tied his season highs of 2.2 innings and four strikeouts while allowing one run and one walk.
ELITE FIELDING: The Patriots' defense is 8th in the nation in fielding percentage with a .984 clip. Everyday infielder Chayton Krauss has yet to commit an error in 192 chances this season and has not committed an error in 519 chances since his last miscue on March 14, 2025.
 
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA
TOP COMPETITION: The Sooners are ranked as high as No. 13 in the country in the national polls and possess the No. 18 RPI in the country, playing the 8th toughest schedule the country.
STRONG PITCHING: OU boasts one of the best pitching staffs in the country, boasting a team 3.95 ERA (25th in the nation), a 1.30 WHIP (34th), and 7.25 hits allowed per nine innings (14th).
CATALANO GETS THE BALL: Michael Catalano is set to make his fifth start of the season. In his last four appearances, which include three starts, he has gone 12.2 innings and surrendered only 2 runs combined. In his start against DBU on March 3, he threw 2.0 scoreless innings and struck out two batters, allowing only one hit and no walks.
PRIMARY PRODUCERS: Jaxon Willits and Trey Gambill ignite the Sooner offense, topping the club with batting averages of .323 and .306, respectively. Brendan Brock leads the team with seven home runs.
DIAMOND THIEVES: Oklahoma is active on the basepaths, with 75 stolen bases as a team (2nd in the SEC). Camden Johnson (19 stolen bases), Brendan Brock (15), and Trey Gambill (12) are all top 10 in the SEC in swiped bags.
 
SERIES HISTORY
DBU is 20-27 all-time versus Oklahoma in a series that dates back to 1978. The Patriots are 20-14 against the Sooners in DBU's Division I era. OU defeated DBU earlier this season in a 2-0 affair in Norman. It snapped a four-game winning streak for the Patriots against the Sooners.
 
ON DECK
DBU heads to Huntsville, Texas for a CUSA series against Sam Houston this weekend. Game one is scheduled for Friday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m. at Don Sanders Stadium.