MARSHALL, Texas – Spring time is here and a new season for the East Texas Baptist University baseball program. Entering the 2026 season, they have been chosen as the favorite to win the American Southwest Conference and have earned a national ranking of 25^th from D3baseball.com.
 
ETBU earned 30 points and seven first-place votes from the ASC coaches and athletic communicators. Last year, ETBU went 31-16, won their second ASC Tournament Championship in three years, and hosted the NCAA Division III Marshall, Texas Regional Tournament finishing as runners-up. In the ASC, they went 11-5 to win their fourth straight ASC regular season championship. Joaquin Costa, Matthew Irwin, and Connor Massimini are on the ASC Players to Watch list for this season.
 
Massimini made the 2025 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Region Third-Team, is a two-time ABCA All-Region selection, and a two-time All-ASC Second-Team member. Costa was the ASC Freshman of the Year and All-ASC honorable mention while Irwin made the All-ASC First-Team as a pitcher. Also returning All-ASC members are Carson Livesay (Second-Team), Tyler Bogusz (Second-Team), and Brayden Hodge (Second-Team).
 
Finishing last year in two national polls, ETBU enters 2026 in the first preseason poll released ranked 25^th by D3baseball.com. This will be the 28^th straight week being ranked in a national poll and earned 58 points. Three teams that ETBU will face are also receiving votes.
 
ETBU opens up their 2026 season at home on Tuesday, February 10, against Austin College at 6:00 p.m