THIS WEEK
The North Dakota State baseball team is set to begin the 2026 season with a three-game series at Florida Gulf Coast. The Bison will take on the Eagles on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT, and Saturday at 4:00 p.m. CT. NDSU will wrap the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT
 
COVERAGE
All three games at Florida Gulf Coast will feature live statistics and will be streamed on ESPN+ for subscribers. Live statistics and video links are available on GoBison.com/coverage.
 
THE SERIES VS. FGCU
This will be only the second all-time meeting between NDSU and Florida Gulf Coast. In their only meeting in 2022, the Eagles edged the Bison, 9-8, after scoring two late runs in the eighth inning in Fort Myers.
 
THE CHALLENGING SCHEDULE AHEAD
The Bison are set to play 51 games and will take on 11 different opponents across 21 total non-conference games. The non-conference portion of the schedule features four opponents that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season, including Stetson, Vanderbilt, Nebraska and Creighton. The Bison will play their first 24 games away from home until making their home debut hosting Oral Roberts on March 27.
 
THE SEASON STARTS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE
The Bison are set to return to the state of Florida for the first time since the 2022 season when the NDSU played an nine-game road swing that included an 9-8 midweek loss at Florida Gulf Coast.
 
BISON RETURN TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Bison returned to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the NDSU Division I era last season and first time since 2021. It marked their second straight appearance winning at least one game after upending then-ranked No. 23 Kansas, 4-3, in an elimination game in the Fayetteville regional. NDSU clinched its spot in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Summit League Tournament for the third time in program history.
 
YEAR FIVE UNDER OAKES
Head coach Tyler Oakes enters his fifth season as the head coach and 13th season overall at NDSU. He begins the season five wins away from his 100th career win and boasts 95-111-1 overall record. Oakes led the Bison to their first-ever Summit League regular season title in his first season in 2022 and their third Summit League Tournament championship last season.
 
SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sophomore outfielder Dante Smith and junior right-handed pitcher Parker Puetz were named to the Summit League Players and Pitchers to Watch List. Smith is the only returning All-Summit League player on the roster from last season after posting a .375 batting average with 17 runs and 11 RBI in league play. Puetz made five starts on the mound last season after working himself back from injury for a majority of the season. He earned a spot on the 2023 D1Baseball Freshman All-America Second Team and 2023 All-Summit League Second Team.
 
WHO'S BACK?
NDSU returns four players that started in at least 50 percent of the games last season, including Dante Smith, Colten Becker, Noah Gordon and Tommy Simon. Matt Sargeant and Garrett Shupe are the only two pitchers on the roster to have appeared in at least 10.0 innings last season. The roster also features nine seniors: Caleb Corbin, Diego Trujillo, Colten Becker, Bennett Freiter, Tyman Long, Jonah Walker, Brayden Marks, Hudson Hart and Braden Gluth.
 
WELCOME TO THE SQUAD
The Bison welcome 23 newcomers this season, including six true freshman: Landon Sandy, Sheamus Ryan, Easton Reimers, Austin Boylan, Kaden Connor and Sam Anderson.
 
BUILDING THROUGH THE PORTAL
NDSU has used the transfer portal to add 17 of its 23 newcomers entering this season. The Bison added five players and 12 pitchers. Of that group, eight were Division I and three played at the Division II or NAIA level prior to NDSU.
 
JUCO ROOTS
The Bison have added roster depth through junior colleges with the roster featuring seven players having played at the junior college level prior to NDSU, including six newcomers: Lathan Van Ausdall, Chase Womack, AJ Doll, Chris Billings, Connor McCaleb and Jack Surdey.
 
SUMMIT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
The Bison were picked fifth in the Summit League Preseason Poll with 11 total points. Oral Roberts earned the top spot with 24 points and four first-place votes.
 
BISON PLAY IN BIG TIME VENUES
Under fifth-year head coach Tyler Oakes, the Bison have made a habit of scheduling a challenging non-conference schedule in preparation of Summit League play and have done it in some of the best venues in college baseball. Over the last four seasons, the Bison have played in front of five of the largest road crowds in program history since 1977. Last season, the Bison played in front of 10,446 fans at LSU on March 5, 2025, the highest road attendance in program history.
 
30TH SEASON AT NEWMAN OUTDOOR FIELD
This season will mark the 30th season of Bison baseball at Newman Outdoor Field dating back to 1997. NDSU has amassed a 264-153-1 overall record over that span at home.
 
BISON TAKE ON REDHAWKS IN EXHIBITION PLAY
For the second straight season, NDSU will take on the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in exhibition play at Newman Outdoor Field on May 6 at 6:00 p.m. The RedHawks edged the Bison, 5-4, last season in front of 1,908 fans. The RedHawks are members of the American Association and also play home games at Newman Outdoor Field.
 
#PROBISON
NDSU has had nine incoming or current players selected in the MLB Draft since 2013. Joey Danielson became the 14th NDSU player selected in the MLB Draft dating back to 1968 after the Texas Rangers picked him in the 17th round in 2024. It marked the second straight season NDSU had a current pitcher selected in the draft after Cade Feeney was picked by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round in 2023. Bennett Hostetler was also selected in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins. He will begin the 2026 season as a non-roster invitee to spring training with the Miami Marlins
 
BELZER JOINS COACHING STAFF
Nick Belzer joined the NDSU coaching staff this offseason as an assistant coach. He started his college career at DMACC before playing two seasons at Minnesota State from 2017-18. Belzer also spent time within the Milwaukee Brewers organization until 2022 and was a pitching coach with the Willmar Stingers in the Northwoods League last summer.
 
UP NEXT
The Bison will continue their Florida road swing with a two-game midweek series at South Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. CT each day.