CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Following a 2025 campaign that saw the Tigers capture an NCCAA Regional Championship and make a World Series appearance, the Campbellsville University baseball team is set to open the 2026 season this Friday with a revamped roster and a new tactical identity.
The Campbellsville University baseball program enters 2026 looking to build on a solid 34-21 campaign that ended at the NCCAA World Series. Under the guidance of Head Coach
Beauford Sanders, who holds 1,064 wins at Campbellsville, the Tigers are pivoting their offensive philosophy to match a roster teeming with athleticism and depth.
The 2025 squad was defined by the long ball, led by the departures of All-Conference sluggers
Henry Wright,
Zane Skansi, and
Yosuke Fujie. The 2026 Tigers, however, will look different.
"Much of last season's power production has moved on, but it has been replaced by an offense built on speed—one that is expected to apply constant pressure on opposing defenses," Coach Sanders noted.
Leading the charge is junior infielder
Antony Gilbert, a projected professional prospect. Gilbert was a force in 2025, batting .363 with 12 doubles, five home runs, and 39 RBIs. He is joined by senior outfielder
Tate Wischnack, who hit at a .354 clip last season and was a perfect 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts.
The lineup is bolstered by an influx of transfer talent. Newcomers expected to make immediate impacts include
Thomas Krueger, an All-Conference selection from Illinois Central who drove in 47 runs last year, and
Brady Henke, a shortstop from Williston State.
On the mound, the Tigers must replace the innings of
Garrett Maloney, a First-Team All-MSC selection in 2025. However, depth appears to be a major strength for the new campaign.
"The pitching staff offers plenty of options," Sanders shared. "With six potential starting arms and a deep bullpen, we have the personnel to be effective on the mound. The biggest question remains: who will emerge as the true number one starter?"
Ian Roemer returns after a successful 2025, where he posted a 5-1 record across 10 appearances. He is joined by veteran right-hander
Joe McBride, who held opponents to a .221 average and recorded three saves last season.
The rotation will be reinforced by Matt Thompson, a transfer from Williston State who arrives with a pedigree as a Conference Pitcher of the Year, having struck out 93 batters with a 3.03 ERA at his previous stop. Left-hander
Evan Moore also joins the staff from Lincoln Trail to provide balance.
The Tigers face a challenging slate immediately, traveling to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to face Columbia International and perennial contender William Carey University on Friday and Saturday.
The home opener at HIG Baseball Field is scheduled for Saturday, February 14, against Goshen College. Key dates on the schedule include a four-game home stand against Indiana Tech (Feb. 27-28) and a critical conference series against the University of the Cumberlands in late April.
With depth at every position and a hungry group of newcomers, the Tigers are optimistic about a deep postseason run in 2026.
