KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Truman State University baseball enters the 2026 season looking to build on key strengths from their 2025 campaign as head coach Dan Davis begins his 20th season at the helm of the program. The Bulldogs were picked 14th in the preseason Great Lakes Valley Conference coaches' poll, receiving 30 points.
Davis, who has led the program since 2007, will be joined by assistant coach Tyler Hudlow in his fifth season as the Bulldogs look to improve on their 12-35 overall record and 9-23 conference mark from a year ago.
Key Returners Lead the Way
During the 2025 season, Truman showed promising signs in several areas that provide a foundation for improvement. The Bulldogs' offense posted a .255 team batting average while drawing 161 walks, demonstrating patience at the plate throughout the season. They also had one of the best defenses in the GLVC with .966 team fielding percentage.
Junior middle infielder Oliver Degenhardt returns after a solid 2025 campaign in which he hit .265 with 12 doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 27 RBI. Degenhardt was a workhorse for the Bulldogs, appearing in all 47 games and providing reliable defense with 100 assists from his position.
Junior second baseman Charlie Berry brings defensive stability back to the infield after posting a .980 fielding percentage in 2025. Berry appeared in 46 games and recorded 110 assists while hitting .234 at the plate.
Senior catcher Alex Wittenauer returns behind the plate after hitting .237 with four doubles and a home run in 2025. Wittenauer threw out eight of 54 attempted base stealers and provides valuable leadership for a pitching staff looking to take steps forward.
Junior outfielder Colin Mueth hit .219 in 2025 and returns to patrol the outfield after posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Junior outfielders Reed Drabant and Ian Thornton also return to provide depth and experience.
On the mound, senior left-hander Isaac Epp returns as the staff ace after posting a 2-7 record with 38 strikeouts in 63.1 innings pitched. Epp completed three games and tossed a shutout in 2025, showing flashes of dominance. Sophomore right-hander Nick Phillips returns after logging 67.1 innings with 38 strikeouts, while sophomore Bryce Balistreri provides bullpen depth after appearing in 10 games.
Juniors Danny Lindsey, Warner Lenahan, and Jack Pearson all return with valuable experience on the mound and will look to build on their 2025 performances.
Sophomore first baseman Quinten Bauman returns for his second season after appearing in 25 games in 2025, hitting .235 with a .994 fielding percentage. Sophomore catcher Gavin Schieffer also returns after catching 29 games and posting a .205 batting average.
Fresh Faces Join the Program
The Bulldogs welcome an impressive recruiting class that adds depth and talent across the roster. Newcomers include freshman infielder Max Burke from Wheaton, Illinois; outfielders Joey Fentress (Kirkwood, Missouri), Tyler Towe (Columbia, Missouri), Evan Pierce (St. Louis), and Jax Markham (Lewisville, Texas); and catcher Trey Hatcher from Macon, Missouri.
On the pitching side, the Bulldogs add right-handers Jacob Osborne (Parker, Colorado), Jake Keane (Chesterfield, Missouri), and Nick Steurer (Fenton, Missouri).
The program also bolsters its roster with several experienced junior college and transfer additions. Junior right-handers Hayden Holman (Moberly Area CC) and Ian Junkin (Moberly Area CC) bring valuable experience to the pitching staff. Junior right-hander Elijah Belden transfers in from Compton College in California.
Junior catcher Shodai Nishihara arrives from North Central Missouri College, while junior third baseman Evan Davis joins the program from Quincy University. Junior left-hander Evan Still adds depth to the pitching rotation after three seasons with the program.
Looking Ahead
The Bulldogs face a challenging conference slate in the GLVC, where University of Indianapolis was picked as the preseason favorite with five first-place votes, followed by Illinois Springfield, Maryville, and Drury rounding out the top four. Lewis, Quincy, Missouri S&T, and Missouri-St. Louis are also expected to contend for conference honors.
With a blend of experienced returners and talented newcomers, the Bulldogs will look to climb the conference standings and build momentum as the season progresses. Coach Davis and his staff will rely on the leadership of seniors like Epp, Wittenauer, and Tieman to guide a roster that features significant junior and sophomore talent alongside an infusion of fresh faces.
The Bulldogs' season is set to begin in the coming weeks as they take on Northeastern State during their opening weekend starting with the season opener on February 13th at 1:00 PM in Talequah, Oklahoma. Truman State will play their home opener against Wisconsin-Parkside on February 20th at 1:00 PM.
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