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Jaxon Bast

Baseball 3/11/2026 1:57:00 PM Tyler Andrus, Assistant Athletic Director - Media & Communications

No. 11 MBU Baseball to Open Conference Play in Home Series vs Baker

ST. LOUIS – No. 11 Missouri Baptist University baseball opens its first season in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with a four-game home series this weekend against Baker University.

The Spartans enter conference play at 10-4 overall (.714) and 3-2 over their last five games. They have multiple ranked wins this season, including a win over No. 1 Louisiana State University Shreveport on Feb. 7, two over No. 11 William Carey University, a pair of (RV) Cumberland University, and one over (RV) Freed-Hardeman University.

Jayden Orozco leads the team offensively with a .396 batting average and a 1.142 on-base plus slugging (OPS), including three home runs and 13 runs batted in (RBI). Carlos Hidalgo leads the club in home runs with four, with Griffin Brown right behind him with three home runs, 11 RBI, and a .968 OPS.

The MBU pitching staff has posted a 4.46 earned run average (ERA), led by Gus Lucas' 2.66 in 20.1 innings, and 112 strikeouts over 107 innings. The Spartan bullpen has been impressive to start the year, led by three saves and eight strikeouts over three innings from closer Zach Peters, and by sub-one ERAs from Elliot Veisauyadra and Austin Szverra, who have combined for four wins.

Baker enters play at 10-6 overall (.625) and 2-3 over its last five. From Feb. 7 to Feb. 28, the Wildcats had a six-game winning streak before Viterbo University halted it in the second game of a Saturday doubleheader.

Camden Karlin is Baker's leading hitter with a .460 batting average in 50 at-bats, including four home runs and 15 RBI. Jon Jenkins and Tyson Wallace have each clubbed four home runs as well, with Wallace second on the team with 12 RBI.

The Wildcat pitching staff has posted a 4.71 ERA with 117 strikeouts over 114 innings. Karlin also leads the team with three wins on the mound, including a 2.45 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 22 innings.

The first pitch is currently scheduled for Friday, March 13, at Spartan Field, with the possibility of being moved to CarShield Field in O'Fallon, Mo.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#35 Gus Lucas: LHP; 6' 4"; Junior; L/L

#57 Elliot Veisauyadra: RHP; 6' 4"; Junior; R/R

#4 Griffin Brown: OF; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#35 Gus Lucas
: 6' 4"; Junior; L/L
: LHP

#57 Elliot Veisauyadra
: 6' 4"; Junior; R/R
: RHP

#4 Griffin Brown
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: OF