2026 East Tennessee State Buccaneers baseball team

2026 East Tennessee State Buccaneers baseball
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record30–23 (10–11 SoCon)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Canyon McWilliams (1st season)
  • JD Yakubinis (1st season)
  • Morgan Little (1st season)
Hitting coachChad Marshall (5th season)
Pitching coachJamie Pinzino (6th season)
Home stadiumThomas Stadium
2026 Southern Conference baseball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Mercer ‍†‍‍ 15–6 .71444–15 .746
Western Carolina ‍‍‍ 14–7 .66736–23 .610
Samford ‍‍‍ 12–9 .57131–25 .554
Wofford ‍‍‍ 12–9 .57134–22 .607
The Citadel ‍‍‡‍y 11–10 .52436–26 .581
East Tennessee State ‍‍‍ 10–11 .47630–23 .566
UNC Greensboro ‍‍‍ 7–14 .33323–33 .411
VMI ‍‍‍ 3–18 .14328–27 .509
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of May 31, 2026[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball

The 2026 East Tennessee State Buccaneers baseball team represented East Tennessee State University during the 2026 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Buccaneers played their home games at Thomas Stadium. They were led by ninth-year head coach, Joe Pennucci.

Preseason

Coaches poll

The coaches poll was released on February 5, 2026. ETSU was selected to finish third in the conference.[2]

SoCon coaches poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Samford45 (4)
2Mercer44 (3)
3ETSU38 (1)
4The Citadel30
5Western Carolina24
6UNCG16
7VMI14
8Wofford13

Awards and honors

Preseason SoCon awards and honors

Preseason All-SoCon Team[2]
Player No. Position Class Designation
Michael Harpster26SPJuniorFirst Team
Derek McCarley5RPRedshirt SeniorFirst Team
Jamie Palmese1OFJuniorFirst Team
Tristan Curless321BSeniorSecond Team
Axel Melendez13OFSophomoreSecond Team

Personnel

Roster

2026 East Tennessee State Buccaneers baseball team
PlayersCoaches
#Pos.NameB/THeightWeightYearHome town
1 OF Jamie Palmese R/R 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Berlin, CT
2 INF Henry Ferguson R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So Knoxville, TN
3 RHP Colin Eaton R/R 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sr Cartersville, GA
4 C Ty Galusky L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Morgantown, WV
5 LHP Derek McCarley L/L 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) RS Sr Seymour, TN
6 INF Griffin Sorrow R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Fayetteville, GA
7 C Mason Ault R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Ancaster, ON
8 RHP Logan Grass R/R 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Acworth, GA
9 INF Luke Matlock R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Cypress, CA
10 INF Eli Evans R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Knoxville, TN
11 OF Andrew Palmer R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Mount Pleasant, SC
12 INF Ian Guanzon R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Chico, CA
13 OF Axel Melendez L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Cidra, PR
14 INF Matt Evans R/R 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Ellenwood, GA
15 RHP Evan Rolison R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Flower Mound, TX
16 OF Joey Little R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sr Hawthorn Woods, IL
17 OF Nate Conner L/L 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Johnson City, TN
18 LHP Thomas Costarelli L/L 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Islip Terrace, NY
20 RHP Stratton Scott R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS Fr Knoxville, TN
23 INF Andrew Hill R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Knoxville, TN
24 LHP Tyler Fetterman R/L 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS So Aldie, VA
25 LHP Cody Carwile L/L 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Fleming Island, FL
26 RHP Michael Harpster R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Lynchburg, VA
27 RHP Reid Brosnan R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS Fr Atlanta, GA
28 RHP Carter Oliff R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Sr Brentwood, TN
29 LHP Tyler Kropis L/L 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Seekonk, MA
30 LHP Tadan Bell L/L 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Jr Columbus, NE
31 RHP Andrew Cotten R/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Sr Lexington, SC
32 INF Tristan Curless L/L 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Sr Amarillo, TX
33 C Gabe Juarez R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Sr Reseda, CA
34 RHP Jace Hyde L/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jr Athens, TN
35 OF Brody Smith L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Tampa, FL
37 RHP Jack Vest R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So Lewisville, NC
39 RHP Cooper Jones R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Hixson, TN
40 LHP Reilly Byers L/L 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 197 lb (89 kg) Jr Knoxville, TN
44 RHP Liam Thatcher L/R 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Altadena, CA
45 C Trey Martin R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS Fr Haddonfield, NJ
Head coach

Joe Pennucci

Assistant coach(es)

Jamie Pinzino
Chad Marshall
Canyon McWilliams
JD Yakubinis
Morgan Little

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: April 27, 2026

Game log

2026 East Tennessee State Buccaneers baseball game log
(Overall: 30–23; Conference: 10–11); (Home: 19–7; Away: 11–15; Neutral: 0–1)
Regular season (30–22)
February (8–2)
(Home: 8–1; Away: 0–1)
DateTime (EST)OpponentRankTVVenueScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSoCon record
February 132:00 p.m.Marist*Thomas Stadium
Johnson City, TN		W 6–5Cotten (1–0)Fierro (0–1)None2771–0—
February 1412:00 p.m.Marist*Thomas StadiumW 7–5Oliff (1–0)Mazza (0–1)Costarelli (1)4452–0—
February 144:00 p.m.Marist*Thomas StadiumW 7–2Vest (1–0)Sullivan (0–1)None5363–0—
February 174:00 p.m.at Virginia Tech*English Field
Blacksburg, VA		L 5–7Swift (1–0)Costarelli (0–1)Yagesh (1)8933–1—
February 203:00 p.m.Sacred Heart*Thomas StadiumW 10–0Bell (1–0)Matuschat (1)None3184–1—
February 2111:00 a.m.Sacred Heart*Thomas StadiumW 26–3Harpster (1–0)Katsaros (0–1)None2685–1—
February 213:00 p.m.Sacred Heart*Thomas StadiumW 11–8Rolison (1–0)Parker (0–2)Costarelli (2)6176–1—
February 253:00 p.m.Appalachian State*Thomas StadiumL 5–8Tramontana (1–0)McCarley (0–1)DiRito (2)2406–2—
February 273:00 p.m.Quinnipiac*Thomas StadiumW 8–2Bell (2–0)Balcolm (0–3)None3037–2—
February 282:00 p.m.Quinnipiac*Thomasa StadiumW 4–3(10)Cotten (2–0)Alduino (1–1)None4828–2—
March (11–5)
(Home: 8–1; Away: 3–4)
DateTime (EDT)OpponentRankTVVenueScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSoCon record
March 11:00 p.m.Quinnipiac*Thomas StadiumW 16–5(8)Scott (1–0)Pazdera (0–2)None3299–2—
March 34:00 p.m.at No. 19 Tennessee*SECN+Lindsey Nelson Stadium
Knoxville, TN		L 1–7Frederick (2–0)Curless (0–1)None6,0289–3—
March 65:35 p.m.at James Madison*ESPN+Veterans Memorial Park
Harrisonburg, VA		L 1–11(7)Kinsler (2–0)Bell (2–1)None2679–4—
March 72:50 p.m.at James Madison*ESPN+Veterans Memorial ParkL 4–6Alexander (3–0)Harpster (1–1)McGrath (3)7419–5—
March 81:00 p.m.at James Madison*ESPN+Veterans Memorial ParkW 13–0(8)Cotten (3–0)Lutz (0–1)None37610–5—
March 133:00 p.m.Bradley*Thomas StadiumW 12–2(7)Bell (3–1)Levy (1–1)None27511–5—
March 1412:00 p.m.Bradley*Thomas StadiumW 15–2(7)Harpster (2–1)Thompson (0–4)None33712–5—
March 143:25 p.m.Bradley*Thomas StadiumW 10–3Jones (1–0)Scheider (0–2)None51313–5—
March 1512:00 p.m.Bradley*Thomas StadiumW 15–2(7)Rolison (2–0)Webb (1–1)None47114–5—
March 206:00 p.m.at UNC GreensboroESPN+UNCG Baseball Stadium
Greensboro, NC		L 3–6Chapman (2–2)Bell (3–2)Weaver (1)40614–60–1
March 212:00 p.m.at UNC GreensboroESPN+UNCG Baseball StadiumW 8–2Harpster (3–1)Shuey (1–3)Rolison (1)43015–61–1
March 221:00 p.m.at UNC GreensboroESPN+UNCG Baseball StadiumW 15–8Costarelli (1–1)Miles (3–1)Curless (1)36016–62–1
March 245:00 p.m.Virginia TechESPN+Thomas StadiumW 9–4Scott (2–0)Exum (0–1)Grass (1)1,09217–6—
March 2711:00 a.m.VMIESPN+Thomas StadiumW 6–5Oliff (2–0)Sipe (4–1)Costarelli (3)25118–63–1
March 283:00 p.m.VMIESPN+Thomas StadiumW 4–3Harpster (4–1)Velasquez (1–1)Scott (1)63419–64–1
March 291:00 p.m.VMIESPN+Thomas StadiumL 4–5Baker (5–0)Scott (2–1)None93319–74–2
April (8–8)
(Home; 3–1; Away: 5–7)
DateTime (EDT)OpponentRankTVVenueScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSoCon record
April 27:00 p.m.at SamfordESPN+JL Griffin Stadium
Birmingham, AL		L 7–13Whitney (1–0)Scott (2–2)None57719–84–3
April 36:00 p.m.at SamfordESPN+JL Griffin StadiumW 4–3Rolison (3–0)Spurrier (1–3)None43320–85–3
April 42:00 p.m.at SamfordESPN+JL Griffin StadiumW 6–4Jones (2–0)Tommasini (1–1)Curless (2)33321–86–3
April 73:00 p.m.at Radford*Carter Memorial Stadium
Radford, VA		L 3–4Baker (1–0)Cotten (3–1)Howard (1)10821–9—
April 105:00 p.m.at Belmont*ESPN+E. S. Rose Park
Nashville, TN		W 6–3Bell (4–2)Marland (3–3)Brosnan (1)18022–9—
April 112:00 p.m.Belmont*ESPN+E. S. Rose ParkW 8–4(7)Harpster (5–1)Harvey (0–2)None18423–9—
April 115:00 p.m.Belmont*ESPN+E. S. Rose ParkL 8–10Perry (1–4)Jones (2–1)Van Ness (1)18023–10—
April 143:00 p.m.at No. 5 Georgia*SECN+Foley Field
Athens, GA		L 10–12Farley (4–0)McCarley (0–2)Scott (2)2,81723–11—
April 175:00 p.m.The CitadelESPN+Thomas StadiumL 8–11Bowers (2–2)Scott (2–3)Gibson (4)76223–126–4
April 182:00 p.m.The CitadelESPN+Thomas StadiumW 5–4Curless (1–1)Brown (1–3)None72724–127–4
April 191:00 p.m.The CitadelESPN+Thomas StadiumW 12–1(8)Jones (3–1)Coulter (0–1)None88925–128–4
April 216:00 p.m.at Appalachian State*ESPN+Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium
Boone, NC		L 1–3Tramontana (2–1)Scott (2–4)Beaty (1)71325–13—
April 243:00 p.m.at Western CarolinaHennon Stadium
Cullowhee, NC		L 10–14Snyder (6–0)Rolison (3–1)None22725–148–5
April 246:45 p.m.at Western CarolinaHennon StadiumW 4–3Harpster (6–1)Fordham (4–3)Curless (3)78226–149–5
April 251:00 p.m.at Western CarolinaESPN+Hennon StadiumL 2–13(7)Myers (4–1)Jones (3–2)None61926–159–6
April 285:00 p.m.UNC Asheville*ESPN+Thomas StadiumW 10–7Vest (2–0)Melton (0–2)Grass (2)37727–15—
May (3–7)
(Home; 0–4; Away: 3–3)
DateTime (EDT)OpponentRankTVVenueScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordSoCon record
May 16:00 p.m.at UConn*UCONN+Elliot Ballpark
Storrs, CT		W 14–7Scott (3–4)West (4–5)None42628–15—
May 22:00 p.m.at UConn*UCONN+Elliot BallparkW 6–1Bell (5–2)Suchy (4–2)Curless (4)80129–15—
May 311:00 a.m.at UConn*UCONN+Elliot BallparkL 3–4Pudvar (6–3)Jones (3–3)Shaw (2)61029–16—
May 55:00 p.m.Radford*ESPN+Thomas StadiumL 10–12Noonan (2–1)Grass (0–1)Hatcher (3)58329–17—
May 85:30 p.m.at WoffordESPN+Russell C. King Field
Spartanburg, SC		L 6–7Bouchard (9–2)Scott (3–5)None26129–189–7
May 92:00 p.m.at WoffordESPN+Russell C. King FieldL 5–6Condon (6–2)Harpster (6–2)Laughlin (1)38429–199–8
May 101:00 p.m.at WoffordESPN+Russell C. King FieldW 9–5Jones (4–3)Gray (1–3)None31230–1910–8
May 145:00 p.m.MercerESPN+Thomas StadiumL 7–9Fagerstorm (5–1)Grass (0–2)Ackerman (2)47430–2010–9
May 152:00 p.m.MercerESPN+Thomas StadiumL 7–9Garnett (4–0)Brosnan (0–1)Kersey (5)50230–2110–10
May 161:00 p.m.MercerESPN+Thomas StadiumL 6–11Hughes (3–1)Curless (1–2)None62930–2210–11
Postseason (0–1)
DateTime (EDT)OpponentSeedTVVenueScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall recordTournament record
May 201:30 p.m.vs. (7) UNC Greensboro(6)ESPN+Fluor Field
Greenville, SC		L 5–6Lee (2–1)Scott (3–6)None30—230—1
"#" represents ranking. All rankings from D1Baseball Poll on the date of the contest.
"()" represents postseason seeding in the SoCon Tournament or NCAA Regional, respectively.
  = Win,   = Loss,   = Canceled/Postponed
Bold = East Tennessee State Buccaneers team member
* = Non-Conference Game
Schedule Source:[3]

Schedule Notes:

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: — = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314151617Final
Coaches'[4]——*—————————
Baseball America[5]———————————
NCBWA†[6]RVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV
D1Baseball[7]———————————
Perfect Game[8]———————————

† NCBWA ranks 30 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 25 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

References

  1. ↑ "SoCon Baseball 2026 Standings". SoConSports.com. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Samford Picked to Win 2026 SoCon Baseball Title". soconsports.com. February 5, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  3. ↑ "2026 Baseball Schedule". East Tennessee State Buccaneers. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  4. ↑ "NCAA Baseball Coaches Poll | USA Today Sports". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  5. ↑ "College Baseball Top 25 Rankings". www.baseballamerica.com. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  6. ↑ "NCBWA > News > Top 30 Poll". www.sportswriters.net. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Rankings Archives • D1Baseball". d1baseball.com. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Rankings | Perfect Game USA". perfectgame.org. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
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