BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – SIUE has been picked as the team to beat in the 2026 baseball race, according the preseason poll released today by the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Cougars earned 10 first-place voted and 137 points. Southeast Missouri, who received three first-place votes, followed with 136 points. Eastern Illinois was picked third with four first-place votes and 132 points. 2025 OVC Tournament Champion Little Rock picked up the other three first-place votes and 122 points to come in fourth.
Last year, SIUE won 18 OVC contests, the second-most in program history, and the most in the league, but finished second by percentage points to Eastern Illinois in the regular season standings.
2026 OVC Baseball Predicted Order of Finish
1. SIUE (10 first-place votes) - 137 points
2. Southeast Missouri (3) - 136
3. Eastern Illinois (4) - 132
4. Little Rock (3) - 122
5. Tennessee Tech - 98
6. Lindenwood - 86
7. Southern Indiana - 70
8. UT Martin - 54
9. Morehead State - 37
10. Western Illinois – 28
The league also recognized returners from last year's All-OVC teams and each team has two Players to Watch. The Cougars have five returning All-OVC selections, including four who were first team members in 2025.
Senior shortstop Chase Bloomer, junior outfielder Daniel Gierer, graduate second baseman Mack Mitchell, and junior first baseman Ryan Niedzwiedz all were first team All-OVC picks in 2025. Junior right-handed starter Spencer Stearns was a second team selection.
Sophomore right-handed starter Tim Teixeira, who was an All-Freshman team pick, and senior infielder Ethan Willoughby are SIUE's Players to Watch.
SIUE opens the 2026 season Fri., Feb. 13 with the first of a three-game series at North Alabama.
Returning All-OVC Selections
(first or second team selections in 2025)
Eastern Illinois
Tyler Conklin (RHP, Grad)
Mike O'Conor (INF, Sr.)
Lindenwood
Kam Edwards (OF, Fifth Year)
Josh Newell (RHP, Sr.)
Little Rock
Cooper Chaplain (2B, Sr.)
Ryan Geck (UTIL, Sr.)
Southeast Missouri
Jackson Kranawetter (LHP, Sr.)
Nathan Mertens (RHP, Sr.)
SIUE
Chase Bloomer (INF, Sr.)
Daniel Gierer (OF, Jr.)
Mack Mitchell (INF, Grad.)
Ryan Niedzwiedz (INF, Jr.)
Spencer Stearns (INF/RHP, R-Jr.)
Southern Indiana
Khi Holiday (OF, Grad.)
Parker Martin (INF, Jr.)
Clayton Slack (INF, Sr.)
Tennessee Tech
Jorsixt Jimenez (OF, Sr.)
Western Illinois
Liam Bushey (OF, Fifth Year)
2026 Players to Watch
Each team selected two "Players to Watch" to represent its team.
Eastern Illinois
Anthony Solis (RHP, Jr.)
James Love (1B/3B, So.)
Lindenwood
Jake Radosevich (C/DH, Sr.)
Charlie Isom-McCall (INF, So.)
Little Rock
Angel Cano (1B, Sr.)
Cade Martin (C, So.)
Morehead State
Caden Sheridan (C, So.)
Landon Waugh (RHP, So.)
Southeast Missouri
Cal Sullivan (C/1B, Jr.)
Brooks Kettering (INF, Jr.)
SIUE
Tim Teixeira (RHP, So.)
Ethan Willoughby (3B, Sr.)
Southern Indiana
Abdriel Figueroa (RHP, Jr.)
Jake Porter (LHP, Sr.)
Tennessee Tech
Owen Lee (INF, R-So.)
Reece McDuffie (RHP, Sr.)
UT Martin
TJ Grines (UTIL, Sr.)
Jacob Sitton (RHP, Sr.)
Western Illinois
Kenneth Perez (SS, So.)
Max Tripure (RHP, Sr.)
