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Baseball 2/5/2026 4:36:00 PM Tyler Andrus, Assistant Athletic Director - Media & Communications

No. 12 MBU Baseball Ready for Tough Non-Conference Schedule, First Year in New Conference

No. 12 Missouri Baptist University baseball begins its 2026 season on Friday, Feb. 6, kicking off the Cajun Collision in a doubleheader against the University of Science & Arts (Okla.) and Texas A&M – Texarkana. The Spartans are coming off a 2025 campaign that saw them win their former conference's regular-season and tournament championships before falling two wins short of an Avista-NAIA World Series berth.

MBU has a demanding non-conference schedule, which includes meetings with the reigning national champion and first-ranked Louisiana State University Shreveport Pilots, No. 19 Mid-America Christian University (Okla.), No. 11 William Carey University (Miss.), and (RV) Cumberland University (Tenn.).

They enter play in their new conference, the Heart of America Athletic Conference, on Friday, March 13, with a home, four-game set with Baker University (Kan.). The Spartans have 23 home games spread across 12 home dates this season, with the home-opening series against Doane University beginning on Friday, Feb. 20, and the annual Clay Pfeiffer Memorial Tournament beginning on Friday, March 6.

MBU returns a veteran core from a 42-win club that went 31-5 in the American Midwest Conference in 2025. The Spartans bring back multiple everyday position players, including Jayden Orozco and Dominic Palma, who each started all 53 games last season. Orozco hit .331 with 14 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .481 on-base percentage, while Palma batted .300 with 60 hits, 15 doubles, and 20 stolen bases at the top of the order.

The lineup also features returning experience in the outfield and behind the plate. Carlos Hidalgo appeared in 32 games and hit .366 with six home runs and 28 RBIs, while Kai Gray batted .263 with three home runs and reached base at a .494 clip. Kevin Watkins asl returns after providing energy and speed in limited action last season, hitting .526 in 31 games.

On the mound, the Spartans return several arms that logged meaningful innings during the 2025 season. Teague Robertson went 5-2 with a 2.08 ERA across eight starts, striking out 35 hitters in 39 innings, while Austin Szverra posted a 1.71 ERA and a 3-0 record in seven appearances. Left-hander Gus Lucas finished 5-0 with a 3.03 ERA, making seven starts, and JD Whitter added 22 strikeouts over 19 innings out of the bullpen.

Additional pitching depth returns in Zach Peters, who recorded four saves and a 3.74 ERA, along with Jackson Wells, Taylon Laxson, and Elliot Veisauyadra, all of whom saw action during the 2025 campaign.

The first pitch of the season opener against the USAO is set for 2:30 p.m., on Friday in Sterlington, La. They will then play Texas A&M-Texarkana at 6 p.m., before wrapping up the Cajun Collision on Saturday, Feb. 7, against No. 19 MACU and first-ranked LSU Shreveport.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Jayden Orozco: 3B; 5' 10"; Senior; R/R

#32 Teague Robertson: RHP; 6' 2"; Senior; S/R

#29 Austin Szverra: RHP; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#21 Kevin Watkins: UTIL; 6' 1"; Junior; R/R

#19 Jackson Wells: LHP; 6' 5"; Senior; L/L

#9 Kai Gray: OF; 5' 11"; Junior; R/R

#18 Carlos Hidalgo: OF; 6' 0"; Junior; R/R

#2 Dominic Palma: SS; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

#16 Taylon Laxson: LHP; 6' 0"; Junior; L/L

#34 Zach Peters: RHP; 6' 5"; Graduate Student; R/R

Players Mentioned

#1 Jayden Orozco
: 5' 10"; Senior; R/R
: 3B

#32 Teague Robertson
: 6' 2"; Senior; S/R
: RHP

#29 Austin Szverra
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#21 Kevin Watkins
: 6' 1"; Junior; R/R
: UTIL

#19 Jackson Wells
: 6' 5"; Senior; L/L
: LHP

#9 Kai Gray
: 5' 11"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#18 Carlos Hidalgo
: 6' 0"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#2 Dominic Palma
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: SS

#16 Taylon Laxson
: 6' 0"; Junior; L/L
: LHP

#34 Zach Peters
: 6' 5"; Graduate Student; R/R
: RHP