Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs open up the 2026 baseball season in Florida this weekend, playing three games against three different team, starting Friday at Lynn at 2 p.m. The 'Dogs are at Barry Saturday at 2 p.m., then travel to Nova Southeastern Sunday for a 12 p.m. start. Wingate went 26-26 last season, posting a 15-15 record in league play.

The Bulldogs were picked fourth in the preseason SAC poll, with six players earning SAC Player to Watch accolades. "I think the team has a strong and positive vibe right now," head coach Jeff Gregory says. "They have spent a lot of time connecting as a group throughout the year and I believe they are ready to see a different uniform at this point. Our goals have not changed. We want to become the best team that we can this year and compete in relevant games by the end of season."

The Bulldogs have a solid mix of returners and newcomers, with a mixture of freshmen and transfers joining the returning players. "The preseason has been solid," Gregory says. "We have dealt with weather challenges along with some minor bumps and bruises. I think that our entire team has been good about adapting and moving forward. They have responded well to any adjustments that we have made, learned from mistakes and have been diligent about our preparation going into opening weekend. As I mentioned earlier, they are ready to compete against another team besides just facing one another."

With a solid group of returners, Wingate has plenty of strong leadership heading into the 2026 season. "I think that I am most proud of how different guys have stepped into leadership roles," Gregory says. "There has been more than a few, but each have shown different ways of being examples for teammates and helping teammates along as needed. Our younger guys have really brought a strong ambition and drive that returners have loved and our older guys have brought a consistency to each day that our younger players have really adopted to. It has been really enjoyable for me so far with this team and coaching staff. Each day they bring a strong work ethic to what we do. Our leadership group of Jake Courville, Carson Morton, Josh Haggerty and Tanner McCammon have really done a good job of helping create this environment throughout the team."

"I like our depth and versatility of the team this year," Gregory says. "I think that our pitching staff has a lot of opportunities sitting in front of them. They have made quality strides throughout the year so far. I think we are athletic defensively and have quite a few guys that can play different positions and a quality level. I also think that our offense has been consistent throughout the year and that has continued through the preseason. We have some flexibility there that should help us be able to score runs in different ways."

OUTFIELD

The Bulldogs have a trio of returners looking to contribute in the outfield, along with a pair of newcomers. Returners Will Farrell, David Sessoms and Cam Harris are joined by Campbell transfer Ben Karpowicz and freshman Reed Benamati.

Farrell and Harris both earned SAC Preseason Player to Watch accolades. Farrell hit .327 last season with five homers, three doubles and 14 RBI in 29 starts, scoring 29 runs while adding 10 stolen bases. Harris was an All-American in 2024, while hitting .273 with seven doubles, two triples, two homers and 35 RBI last year, scoring 26 runs. Sessoms appeared in 18 games last year, collecting nine hits including a double and homer, driving in five runs and scoring five times.

INFIELD

The infield also has a mixture of returners and newcomers, including preseason SAC Player to Watch Jake Courville. Other returners looking to contribute in the infield include Justin Barham, Jordan Dixon and Will Goff, joined by Appalachian State transfer Tanner McCammon, East Carolina transfer Neil Griffin and freshman Bowen Powell.

Courville started all 52 games last year, hitting .304 with eight doubles, two triples, a homer and 29 RBI, scoring 45 runs. Dixon hit .281, collecting seven doubles and seven homers while driving in 27 runs and scoring 24.

The SAC Player to Watch duo of Jalen Evans and Gavin Groppuso could see time in the infield and the outfield this year. Evans led the 'Dogs with a .344 average in 2025, collecting three doubles and a homer while driving in 23 runs and scoring 31 times. He also stole 21 bases in 26 attempts. Groppuso hit .260 with a .422 on-base percentage, registering eight doubles and a pair of triples last season, scoring 40 runs while driving in 27. He piled up 27 stolen bases in 32 attempts.

CATCHERS

Wingate has four players looking to contribute behind the dish this season, including returns Bradley Hart and Joe Scheffler. They are joined by freshmen Max Reaume and Luke St. John. Hart appeared in seven games last season, collecting seven hits in 15 at bats while driving in nine runs. Scheffler appeared in 32 games, hitting .250 with eight doubles and a homer, driving in 18 runs.

DESIGNATED HITTER

The contributors at the DH spot look to be Dixon along with Sean Sullivan. Sullivan started the first 22 games of the season in 2025 before an injury, hitting .299 while piling up seven homers, six doubles and a triple with 30 RBI and 17 runs scored. He compiled a .632 slugging percentage on the year.

PITCHERS

The staff will be anchored by SAC Player to Watch and 2025 All-American Chad Harvey, along with East Carolina transfer JD Little and freshman Connor Longley. Harvey appeared in 17 games out of the bullpen last year, picking up three wins and six saves while posting a 2.30 ERA, striking out 53 in 43 innings of work while holding opponents to a .164 average.

The Bulldogs have several other options on the mound, including returners Charlie Carpenter, Carson Starnes, Cole Smith and Jett Thomas. They are joined by freshmen Jackson Toney, Kolt Nelson, Nick Papciak, Carter Schuster and Cane Mehling. Other players looking to contribute on the mound include freshmen Braxton Walker, Wade Thompson, and Josh Givens, along with junior college transfer Brandon White. 

SCHEDULE

After opening the season in Florida, the Bulldogs return home to host a three-game series against Millersville Feb. 7 and 8. The 'Dogs then welcome Mount Olive to town Feb. 10 before opening SAC play at Lenoir-Rhyne, ranked sixth in the preseason NCBWA top 25 poll. The first home conference series will be Feb. 27 and 28 when Tusculum comes to town for a three-game set.