SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University baseball team opens its 2026 campaign with a four-game weekend series against St. Michaels February 13-14 at Fairchild Field.
 
The Raiders are eager to shake off their collective cabin fever and set sail on a spring season that has tremendous promise – with a roster that features a bushel of returning bats looking to build upon 2025 breakouts, as well as ample opportunities for arms to step up and assume important roles in both the starting rotation and the bullpen.
 
"We have a good group," said head coach Matt Jones, who has led the Raiders since the 2007 season. "They work hard for each other. I am excited for them, especially some of our guys who are back from injury. This should be a fun team to watch."
 
The Raiders enter 2026 ranked No. 9 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Atlantic Region Preseason Poll. Four of the top ten teams, including three of the top four, represent the PSAC East (No. 1 East Stroudsburg, No. 3 East Stroudsburg and No. 4 West Chester).
 
The last two weeks SU has been holed-up practicing indoors due to the snow. But prior to that, they were able to get outside for several days in mid-January for intrasquad scrimmages in addition to work during the fall.
 
"The returners, we already know what they are capable of and what they can do," junior Ty Sherman said of what he's seen from the SU offense. "Just from our practices we can tell that we have a lot of new bats that can do some damage. I am excited to see us all come together and to all play on the same team for once instead of playing against each other."
 
The SU pitching staff, due to key graduations and players returning from injury, is less set in stone.
 
"Even from the fall, we have progressed great," junior Bryce Amos said of the Raider pitching staff. "Using each other and our teammates experiences has helped us out a lot. We all know that we are going to do whatever wins us the game. Whether it is starting or relief, all the pitchers are prepared to do whatever it takes."
 
Schedule
 
After hosting St. Michaels, the Raiders will welcome Gannon (Feb. 20-21) for February home dates, while also traveling for an important regional matchup at Slippery Rock (Feb. 27-28). The Rock are ranked No. 7 in the NCBWA Preseason poll – two spots in front of the Raiders.
 
March will feature split home-and-away series against Lincoln (Pa.) (Mar. 7-8) and Lock Haven (now in the PSAC West) (Mar. 14-15).
 
The Raiders' PSAC East schedule will begin with a weekend series against Kutztown starting Friday, March 20.
 
Coaching Staff
 
Matt Jones is in his 20th season as the head coach of the Shippensburg University baseball program.
 
Jones has guided the Raiders to 26-or-more wins in each of the last four seasons. Shippensburg has reached the PSAC Tournament in each of those years.
 
During his time with the Raiders, Jones has led the program to five NCAA Regional Appearances and two College World Series.
 
He boasts 627 all-time victories in 23 seasons as a collegiate head coach spanning SU and Elizabethtown.
 
Sean Williamson returns for his 11th season on Jones' staff, functioning as the team hitting coach and recruiting coordinator.
 
Evan Englebrook, a former standout pitcher for the Raiders from '01-'04, is in his second campaign as pitching coach for his alma mater.
 
Nick Spangler is in his fourth season on the SU staff. A former All-PSAC infielder for the Raiders, Spangler serves as the team's first base coach and oversees the infield defense.
 
Last season, the SU coaching staff oversaw the development of pitching ace Jaxon Dalena, who was drafted in the sixth round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft by the San Diego Padres.
 
Dalena, who fanned 99 batters in 83.0 innings last season, was the highest draft pick from NCAA Division II and the state of Pennsylvania in last year's draft and SU baseball's highest selection since 1999.
 
Notes
 
Shippensburg posted a 28-22 record in 2025, qualifying for the PSAC Tournament.
 
The Raiders return a total of 21 players from last year's squad and welcome a class of seven newcomers.
 
Among the returning players are three All-PSAC performers from 2025: Mason Morris, Jack Robinson and AJ Wenrich.
 
Robinson, SU's relief ace, saved the Raiders' last five victories of the 2025 season – finishing the campaign tied for third in the Atlantic Region and fourth all-time in SU single season history with eight saves.
 
Wenrich was one of two SU players to start all 50 games. He ranked fifth in the conference and seventh regionally with 12 home runs. He posted a .319 batting average while alternating between third base and the corner outfield spots defensively.
 
Morris, an All-PSAC First Team catcher, started 40 of SU's 50 games behind home plate while posting a team-best .361 batting average, including a .398 clip during PSAC East play. He ranked 11th in the Atlantic Region in on base percentage (.476) and led the Raiders in on-base plus slugging (OPS) at 1.009.
 
All three players were also named to 2025 All-Region teams.
 
Position Breakdown (This listing is tentative entering the season and subject to change.)
 
Pitchers (12): Bryce Amos, Brenden Anderson, Conner Barto, Jacob Dennis, Dom DiBlasi, Brady Kain, Nathan Lake, Kaleb Maksimik, Jonah Mayer, Franklin Muendel, Jack Robinson, Cole Snyder
 
Catchers (2): Drew Brown, Mason Morris
 
Infielders (9): Brandon Charleston, Tony Falvo, Brady Harbach, Mike Heckman, Caden Lloyd, Caleb Newcomer, Will Oates, Jake Pope, Evan Shoffler
 
Outfielders (4): Kyle Ausgotharp, Lucas Ream, Ty Sherman, AJ Wenrich
 
Utility (1): Thomas Cano-Piszel
 
Home Breakdown
 
Pennsylvania (15)
Conner Barto (Dallastown, Pa./Dallastown)
Drew Brown (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin)
Thomas Cano-Piszel (Buckingham, Pa./Central Bucks East)
Brandon Charleston (Dover, Pa./Northeastern York)
Jacob Dennis (Littlestown, Pa./Littlestown)
Brady Harbach (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central)
Mike Heckman (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township)
Brady Kain (Newport, Pa./Newport)
Caden Lloyd (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley)
Kaleb Maksimik (Shenandoah, Pa./Shenandoah Valley)
Jonah Mayer (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown)
Lucas Ream (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle)
Ty Sherman (Liverpool, Pa./Greenwood)
Cole Snyder (West Chester, Pa./B. Reed Henderson)
AJ Wenrich (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin (Georgia Southern))
 
Virginia (4)
Kyle Ausgotharp (South Riding, Va./Freedom)
Nathan Lake (Falls Church, Va./George C. Marshall)
Franklin Muendel (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac)
Jack Robinson (Marshall, Va./Battlefield (Roanoke))
 
Delaware (2)
Brenden Anderson (Georgetown, Del./Sussex Central)
Mason Morris (Milford, Del./Milford)
 
Maryland (3)
Dom DiBlasi (Marriottsville, Md./Liberty (McDaniel))
Caleb Newcomer (Hagerstown, Md./Mercersburg Academy (Pa.))
Will Oates (Hagerstown, Md./St. Maria Goretti)
 
Ohio (2)
Bryce Amos (Shadyside, Ohio/Shadyside (West Virginia))
Tony Falvo (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster)
 
New Jersey (2)
Jake Pope (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert (Mercer C.C.))
Evan Shoffler (Cape May, N.J./Lower Cape May Regional)