THE RUNDOWN
Friday night, DBU (27-19, 15-7 CUSA) defeated Louisiana Tech (27-20, 14-8 CUSA) by a score of 4-1, taking the opening game of a pivotal series. DBU starter
Liam Watt struck out ten hitters while recording the first nine-inning complete game thrown by a Patriot since Ryan Johnson did so on April 12, 2024. Watt received his run support from a pair of two-run homers, hit respectively by
Chayton Krauss and
Jake Bennett.
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The Bulldogs opened the scoring in the top of the first, as Colby Lunsford came across on an RBI groundout.
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In the bottom of the second,
Mac Rose led off the frame by pulling a single through the right side, before
Chayton Krauss lined a two-run home run over the left field wall, to give the Patriots a 2-1 lead.
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The score would remain 2-1 all the way through the top of the eighth, as Watt and Louisiana Tech's Declan Dahl traded zeros through the next five innings. Neither team would be able to generate a runner in scoring position in that stretch.
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Dahl was lifted for Luke Nichols in the eighth, and with two outs in the inning,
Brooks Sartain worked a full-count walk. The next hitter to step foot in the box would be
Jake Bennett, and he launched an opposite-field, line-drive home run to make it a 4-1 ballgame.
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Having already thrown 110 pitches,
Liam Watt was given the keys to the ninth inning, and he delivered a three-up, three-down frame to seal an electrifying win for the club.
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THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The last Patriot to throw a complete game was
Micah Bucknam, who tossed seven shutout innings against Middle Tennessee State in a run-rule victory on March 21, 2025.
- Chayton's second-inning homer was his 45th as a Patriot, placing him tied for fourth on the program mountain.
- The Patriots have won four of their last five games.
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
122 - Watt tossed 122 pitches in his complete game victory.
2 - Tonight was Watt's second quality start of the season (6 IP, 2 ER at Sam Houston).
4 - Four hits is the fewest DBU has recorded in a win this season.
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ON DECK
The Patriots will continue their series against Louisiana Tech on Saturday afternoon.
Ryan Borberg is scheduled to toe the rubber at 3:05 p.m.
