Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Bellarmine
Middle Tennessee baseball opens 2026 campaign hosting Bellarmine
2/12/2026 2:10:00 PM | Baseball
Feb. 14-16, 2025 | Reese Smith Jr. Field | Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
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Bellarmine Knights 0-0, 0-0 MAC |
at | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 0-0, 0-0 CUSA |
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - After a long winter, MTSU baseball will open up the 2026 season at home to take on the Bellarmine Knights for a three-game set.
- Opening Day Specials | $1 Tickets, Hot Dogs & Soft Drinks.
- Arrive early on Friday! Fans will receive an MTSU Clear fanny pack, while supplies last.
- 2026 Baseball Team Posters and Pocket Schedules will be available all weekend.
Middle Tennessee (0-0) vs. Bellarmine (0-0)
Friday, Feb. 13
» Time/ Site 3 p.m. at The Reese
Middle Tennessee (0-0) vs. Bellarmine (0-0)
Saturday, Feb. 14
» Time/ Site 1 p.m. at The Reese
Middle Tennessee (0-0) vs. Bellarmine (0-0)
Sunday, Feb. 15
» Time/ Site 1 p.m. at The Reese
All-time against Bellarmine (Knights lead 3-1)
Date Results Location
4.13.75 L, 2-1 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
4.13.75 L, 8-4 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
4.11.76 L, 6-4 Louisville, Ky.
4.11.76 W, 7-6 Louisville, Ky.
Back for 113: 2026 will mark the 113th season of Blue Raider baseball dating back to 1913. This season will also be the 16th season inside Reese Smith Jr. Field since its most recent makeover.
Home Sweet Home: The Blue Raiders are home for the 11 of the first 12 home games of the year. "The Reese" will host a total of 32 games throughout the 2026 season.
Meyers Back for Year Four: Head Coach Jerry Meyers is back for his fourth year at the helm. Meyers' interim tag was lifted after the 2023 season, and was extended as head baseball coach immediately.
Newcomers: The Blue Raiders' used the Transfer Portal to grab 12 new guys ranging from the junior college ranks to Division I programs with just one true freshman on the squad coming directly from the high school ranks.
Trace Phillips: Two-way superstar, Trace Phillips was signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 MLB Draft to the Tampa Bay Rays. The RHP/INF signed the second highest UDFA signing bonus in history for $629,200 which is the average slot value for the third round - pick 120 in the draft.
Conference Honors: Drew Horn was the lone Blue Raider named to the 2025 All-Conference USA Preseason team after striking out 57 hitters across 46.1 IP last season.
Senior Status: The Blue Raiders have 14 seniors on this year's roster including Tyler Minnick and newcomer Dean O'Neill. The duo will look to split time between catching and first base, while the two hit .271 and .302 in the batter's box.
Throw Hard, Hit Hard: The 2025 Fall Ball intrasquads were a success for high velocity pitching and high exit velocity for hitters. 15 pitchers hit at least 90 MPH on the radar gun with four players hitting over 94 (Drew Horn 98, Gavin King 96, Abel Albarran 94 and Jack Fortner 94).
On the hitter's side, there were 15 players who had at least one 102+ MPH hit during the intrasquad live at-bats. There were six guys with at least 108 MPH off the bat (Brett Vondohlen 111, Kenny McKinley 110, Keaton Ray 110, Nathan Brewer 109, Jaxon Junnila 109 and Clay Badylak 108.
New Names in Conference: Conference USA welcomes Delaware and Missouri State for 2026 season to solidify CUSA as one of the premier conferences in college baseball.
Slotting right in: The Blue Raiders boast six outfielders returning to this year's team and will be supplemented by junior college transfer Owen Nowak. Nowak hit .409/.479/ .637 in his sophomore season at McHenry County College with seven home runs and 79 RBI at the plate. The Wisconsin native projects to take over everyday duties in center field after the graduation of Eston Snider.
Twice is Nice: Returning pitchers, Chandler Alderman and Drew Horn both boast a no-hitter in their careers as Middle Tennessee. Alderman was tabbed the College Baseball Hall of Fame, Conference USA and TSWA Pitcher of the Week after throwing a no-hitter in his second career start against Liberty in 2024. The southpaw sat down 11 Flames hitters and walked only three across 8.0 IP of work.
Horn accomplished the feat with a 13 strikeout performance over 9.0 IP against Oakland last season to mark the fifth no-no in program history. The Smyrna, Tenn. native earned Conference USA and TSWA Pitcher of the Week honors for the performance. It also played a part in Horn earning All-Conference USA Second Team.
Watch the Blue Raiders: Select MTSU home games will be on ESPN+ in 2026. Road game broadcasts are subject to the home team's broadcast protocols. WGNS Radio will carry the team's radio broadcasts.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on X (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
