Baseball

2026 WIAC Baseball Preview

MADISON, Wis.--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its preview and predictions for the 2026 baseball season. The predictions were voted on by the head coaches and sports information directors.
 
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is predicted to secure its third straight regular-season title. The Warhawks claimed the NCAA Division III Championship a year ago and established a program record with 49 victories. UW-Whitewater enters the 2026 campaign ranked No. 1 in the D3baseball.com/National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason Top 25 and returns Aaron Holland, an All-WIAC first team selection from last season.
 
UW-Oshkosh is slotted for second place in the conference race and ranked No. 18 in the D3baseball.com/NCBWA Poll. The Titans made their first NCAA appearance since 2018 last year and advanced to the Super Regionals for the first time in program history. UW-Oshkosh returns Brett Gaynor, who received All-WIAC first team status in 2025.
 
UW-La Crosse is picked to finish third in the conference standings. The Eagles earned their third straight NCAA appearance last season and are ranked No. 23 in the D3baseball.com/NCBWA Poll. UW-La Crosse brings back AJ Curtis, who received WIAC Newcomer of the Year accolades a year ago.
 
UW-La Crosse is followed in the conference predictions by: UW-Platteville; UW-Stevens Point; UW-River Falls; UW-Stout; and UW-Eau Claire.
 
The 28-game conference schedule for each team begins on March 28. The top-four teams in the standings will secure a spot in the double-elimination WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s) that will be conducted May 7-9 at the No. 1 seed. The winner of the tournament receives the conference’s automatic NCAA bid.
 
2026 Preseason Predictions (Voted on by WIAC head coaches and sports information directors)
 
2025 Record
1. UW-Whitewater (49-6 overall, 24-4 WIAC)
2. UW-Oshkosh (35-16, 20-8)
3. UW-La Crosse (35-11, 23-5)
4. UW-Platteville (20-21, 13-15)
5. UW-Stevens Point (15-25, 10-18)
6. UW-River Falls (13-27, 6-22)
7. UW-Stout (14-26, 12-16)
8. UW-Eau Claire (11-29, 4-24)

 
Team Capsules
 
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach:  Patrick Reilly; 3rd season at UWEC; 22-58
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  36/9
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  8/1
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  9/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  4/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Nick Meuser, Jr., P (2025-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Austin Buck, Jr., 2B; Logan Hesselman, So., 1B; Carter Vieth, So., C
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Sebastian De La Toba, Sr., P; Evan Fischer, So., P; Nick Meuser, Jr., P
 
 
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach:  Chris Schwarz; 22nd season at UWL; 534-341
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  17/21
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  2/7
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/2

Returning All-WIAC:  AJ Curtis, So., P (2025-Honorable/Newcomer of the Year); Owen Deprez, Sr., P (2023-Honorable); Chayce Osterhaus, Jr., P (2025-First)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Calvin Hargrove, Jr., C; Emiliano Ramos, Sr., INF; Luke Walton, So., INF/DH
 
Notable Returning Pitchers: Brady Lash, So., P
 
 
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach:  Kevin Tomasiewicz; 13th season at UWO; 261-202-1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  26/14
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  4/5
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  4/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  1/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Brett Gaynor, Jr., P (2025-First); Josh Jansen, Sr., P (2025-Honorable); Ryan Richter, So., P (2025-Honorable); Logan Schill, Jr., OF (2025-Honorable); Connor Walters, Sr., P (2024-First)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Owen Housinger, Sr., INF; Jack McNamara, Sr., C/DH
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  None
 
 
UW-Platteville
Head Coach:  Chad Harris; 8th season at UWP (15th overall); 96-139 (overall) / 224-312 (UWP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  22/16
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  5/4
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/3


Returning All-WIAC:  Anthony Massa, So., 3B (2025-Honorable); Pierce Nelson, Sr., P (2025-Honorable); Caleb Parker, Jr., SS (2025-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Trinity Beland, So., OF; Connor Gresens, Jr., C
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Isaac Bixby, Sr., P; Wyatt Fischer, Sr., P
 
 
UW-River Falls
Head Coach:  Steve Bartlein; 2nd season at UWRF; 13-27
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  31/8
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  8/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  12/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/0


Returning All-WIAC:  Max Krebs, Jr., INF (2025-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Andrew Athmann, So., C; JV Castillo, So., OF; Tanner Hraby, So., INF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Cade Bruett, So., P; Shaun Gavin, SO., P; Parker Nedland, So., P
 
 
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach:  Nat Richter; 6th season at UWSP; 148-77
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  28/15
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  5/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/1


Returning All-WIAC:  Kenny Schultz, Sr., P (2024-Honorable); Tyler Soule, Sr., INF (2025-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Nick Argersinger, Jr., OF; Cooper Brown, Jr., INF; Kamden Oliver, Sr., INF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Bryce Ehr, Sr., P; Josh Steger, So., P; Steven Wintheiser, Jr., P
 
 
UW-Stout
Head Coach:  Ben Kincaid; 10th season at UWST; 132-175
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  18/18
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  5/4
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  4/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/2

Returning All-WIAC:  Austin Miller, Sr., 1B (2025-First)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  AJ Kargel, Jr., OF; Jack Redwine, Sr., OF; Kevin Zanin, So., OF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Luke Carrier, So., P; Nick Van Beek, Jr., P
 
 
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  John Vodenlich; 25th season (23rd at UWW); 806-275-1 (overall) / 777-235-1 (UWW)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  17/18
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  4/5
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/6
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  5/3


Returning All-WIAC:  Aaron Holland, Jr., C (2024-Honorable, 2025-First); Danny Hopper, Sr., INF (2024-Honorable); Andy Thies, Sr., INF (2024-First, 2025-Honorable)
 
Notable Returning Position Players:  Jackson Koenig, Jr., INF/P; Dominik McVay, Jr., OF; Jackson Spring, So., INF
 
Notable Returning Pitchers:  Brandon Brust, Sr., P; Ben Lee, Jr., P; Brady Malkow, Jr., P
 
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