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.
SoCon coaches poll 1 Samford 45 (4) 2 Mercer 44 (3) 3 ETSU 38 (1) 4 The Citadel 30 5 Western Carolina 24 6 UNCG 16 7 VMI 14 8 Wofford 13
Awards and honors Preseason SoCon awards and honors Preseason All-SoCon Team Player No. Position Class Designation Michael Harpster 26 SP Junior First Team Derek McCarley 5 RP Redshirt Senior First Team Jamie Palmese 1 OF Junior First Team Tristan Curless 32 1B Senior Second Team Axel Melendez 13 OF Sophomore Second Team
Personnel Roster
Game log
! style="" | Regular season (30–22) |- valign="top"
|- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 2:00 p.m. || * || || || Thomas StadiumJohnson City, TN || W 6–5 || Cotten (1–0) || Fierro (0–1) || None || 277 || 1–0 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 12:00 p.m. || Marist* || || || Thomas Stadium || W 7–5 || Oliff (1–0) || Mazza (0–1) || Costarelli (1) || 445 || 2–0 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 4:00 p.m. || Marist* || || || Thomas Stadium || W 7–2 || Vest (1–0) || Sullivan (0–1) || None || 536 || 3–0 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 4:00 p.m. || at Virginia Tech* || || || English FieldBlacksburg, VA || L 5–7 || Swift (1–0)|| Costarelli (0–1) || Yagesh (1) || 893 || 3–1 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 3:00 p.m. || * || || || Thomas Stadium || W 10–0 || Bell (1–0) || Matuschat (1)|| None || 318 || 4–1 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 11:00 a.m. || Sacred Heart* || || || Thomas Stadium || W 26–3 || Harpster (1–0) || Katsaros (0–1) || None || 268 || 5–1 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 3:00 p.m. || Sacred Heart* || || || Thomas Stadium || W 11–8 || Rolison (1–0)|| Parker (0–2)|| Costarelli (2) || 617 || 6–1 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 3:00 p.m. || Appalachian State* || || || Thomas Stadium || L 5–8 || Tramontana (1–0)|| McCarley (0–1) || DiRito (2) || 240 || 6–2 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 3:00 p.m. || * || || || Thomas Stadium || W 8–2 || Bell (2–0) || Balcolm (0–3) || None || 303 || 7–2 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 2:00 p.m. || Quinnipiac* || || || Thomasa Stadium || W 4–3(10) || Cotten (2–0) || Alduino (1–1) || None || 482 || 8–2 || —
|- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 1:00 p.m. || Quinnipiac* || || || Thomas Stadium || W 16–5(8) || Scott (1–0) || Pazdera (0–2) || None || 329 || 9–2 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 4:00 p.m. || at No. 19 Tennessee* || || SECN+ || Lindsey Nelson StadiumKnoxville, TN || L 1–7 || Frederick (2–0) || Curless (0–1) || None || 6,028 || 9–3 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 5:35 p.m. || at * || || ESPN+ || Veterans Memorial ParkHarrisonburg, VA || L 1–11(7) || Kinsler (2–0) || Bell (2–1) || None || 267 || 9–4 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 2:50 p.m. || at James Madison* || || ESPN+ || Veterans Memorial Park || L 4–6 || Alexander (3–0) || Harpster (1–1) || McGrath (3) || 741 || 9–5 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 1:00 p.m. || at James Madison* || || ESPN+ || Veterans Memorial Park || W 13–0(8) || Cotten (3–0) || Lutz (0–1) || None || 376 || 10–5 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 3:00 p.m. || * || || || Thomas Stadium || W 12–2(7) || Bell (3–1) || Levy (1–1) || None || 275 || 11–5 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 12:00 p.m. || Bradley* || || || Thomas Stadium || W 15–2(7) || Harpster (2–1) || Thompson (0–4) || None || 337 || 12–5 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 3:25 p.m. || Bradley* || || || Thomas Stadium || W 10–3 || Jones (1–0) || Scheider (0–2) || None || 513 || 13–5 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 12:00 p.m. || Bradley* || || || Thomas Stadium || W 15–2(7) || Rolison (2–0) || Webb (1–1) || None || 471 || 14–5 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 6:00 p.m. || at || || ESPN+ || UNCG Baseball StadiumGreensboro, NC || L 3–6 || Chapman (2–2) || Bell (3–2) || Weaver (1) || 406 || 14–6 || 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 2:00 p.m. || at UNC Greensboro || || ESPN+ || UNCG Baseball Stadium || W 8–2 || Harpster (3–1) || Shuey (1–3) || Rolison (1) || 430 || 15–6 || 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 1:00 p.m. || at UNC Greensboro || || ESPN+ || UNCG Baseball Stadium || W 15–8 || Costarelli (1–1) || Miles (3–1) || Curless (1) || 360 || 16–6 || 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 5:00 p.m. || Virginia Tech || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || W 9–4 || Scott (2–0) || Exum (0–1) || Grass (1) || 1,092 || 17–6 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 11:00 a.m. || VMI || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || W 6–5 || Oliff (2–0) || Sipe (4–1) || Costarelli (3) || 251 || 18–6 || 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 3:00 p.m. || VMI || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || W 4–3 || Harpster (4–1) || Velasquez (1–1) || Scott (1) || 634 || 19–6 || 4–1 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 1:00 p.m. || VMI || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || L 4–5 || Baker (5–0) || Scott (2–1) || None || 933 || 19–7 || 4–2
|- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 7:00 p.m. || at || || ESPN+ || JL Griffin StadiumBirmingham, AL || L 7–13 || Whitney (1–0) || Scott (2–2) || None || 577 || 19–8 || 4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 6:00 p.m. || at Samford |||| ESPN+ || JL Griffin Stadium || W 4–3 || Rolison (3–0) || Spurrier (1–3) || None || 433 || 20–8 || 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 2:00 p.m. || at Samford || || ESPN+ || JL Griffin Stadium || W 6–4 || Jones (2–0) || Tommasini (1–1) || Curless (2) || 333 || 21–8 || 6–3 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 3:00 p.m. || at * || || || Carter Memorial StadiumRadford, VA || L 3–4 || Baker (1–0)|| Cotten (3–1) || Howard (1) || 108 || 21–9 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 5:00 p.m. || at * || || ESPN+ || E. S. Rose ParkNashville, TN || W 6–3 || Bell (4–2) || Marland (3–3) || Brosnan (1) || 180 || 22–9 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 2:00 p.m. || Belmont* || || ESPN+ || E. S. Rose Park || W 8–4(7) || Harpster (5–1) || Harvey (0–2) || None || 184 || 23–9 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 5:00 p.m. || Belmont* || || ESPN+ || E. S. Rose Park || L 8–10 || Perry (1–4) || Jones (2–1) || Van Ness (1) || 180 || 23–10 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 3:00 p.m. || at No. 5 Georgia* || || SECN+ || Foley FieldAthens, GA || L 10–12 || Farley (4–0) || McCarley (0–2) || Scott (2) || 2,817 || 23–11 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 5:00 p.m. || The Citadel || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || L 8–11 || Bowers (2–2)|| Scott (2–3) || Gibson (4) || 762 || 23–12 || 6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 2:00 p.m. || The Citadel || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || W 5–4 || Curless (1–1) || Brown (1–3)|| None || 727 || 24–12 || 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 1:00 p.m. || The Citadel || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || W 12–1(8) || Jones (3–1) || Coulter (0–1) || None || 889 || 25–12 || 8–4 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 6:00 p.m. || at Appalachian State* || || ESPN+ || Jim and Bettie Smith StadiumBoone, NC || L 1–3 || Tramontana (2–1) || Scott (2–4) || Beaty (1) || 713 || 25–13 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 3:00 p.m. || at Western Carolina || || || Hennon StadiumCullowhee, NC || L 10–14 || Snyder (6–0) || Rolison (3–1) || None || 227 || 25–14 || 8–5 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 6:45 p.m. || at Western Carolina || || || Hennon Stadium || W 4–3 || Harpster (6–1) || Fordham (4–3) || Curless (3) || 782 || 26–14 || 9–5 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 1:00 p.m. || at Western Carolina || || ESPN+ || Hennon Stadium || L 2–13(7) || Myers (4–1) || Jones (3–2) || None || 619 || 26–15 || 9–6 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 5:00 p.m. || * || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || W 10–7 || Vest (2–0) || Melton (0–2) || Grass (2) || 377 || 27–15 || —
|- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 6:00 p.m. || at UConn* || || UCONN+ || Elliot BallparkStorrs, CT || W 14–7 || Scott (3–4) || West (4–5) || None || 426 || 28–15 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 2:00 p.m. || at UConn* || || UCONN+ || Elliot Ballpark || W 6–1 || Bell (5–2) || Suchy (4–2) || Curless (4) || 801 || 29–15 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 11:00 a.m. || at UConn* || || UCONN+ || Elliot Ballpark || L 3–4 || Pudvar (6–3) || Jones (3–3) || Shaw (2) || 610 || 29–16 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 5:00 p.m. || Radford* || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || L 10–12 || Noonan (2–1) || Grass (0–1) || Hatcher (3) || 583 || 29–17 || — |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 5:30 p.m. || at || || ESPN+ || Russell C. King FieldSpartanburg, SC || L 6–7 || Bouchard (9–2) || Scott (3–5) || None || 261 || 29–18 || 9–7 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 2:00 p.m. || at Wofford || || ESPN+ || Russell C. King Field || L 5–6 || Condon (6–2) || Harpster (6–2) || Laughlin (1) || 384 || 29–19 || 9–8 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ccffcc | || 1:00 p.m. || at Wofford || || ESPN+ || Russell C. King Field || W 9–5 || Jones (4–3) || Gray (1–3) || None || 312 || 30–19 || 10–8 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 5:00 p.m. || || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || L 7–9 || Fagerstorm (5–1) || Grass (0–2) || Ackerman (2) || 474 || 30–20 || 10–9 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 2:00 p.m. || Mercer || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || L 7–9 || Garnett (4–0) || Brosnan (0–1) || Kersey (5) || 502 || 30–21 || 10–10 |- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 1:00 p.m. || Mercer || || ESPN+ || Thomas Stadium || L 6–11 || Hughes (3–1) || Curless (1–2) || None || 629 || 30–22 || 10–11
! style="" | Postseason (0–1)
|- align="center" bgcolor=#ffcccc | || 1:30 p.m. || vs. (7) UNC Greensboro || || ESPN+ || Fluor FieldGreenville, SC || L 5–6 || Lee (2–1) || Scott (3–6) || None || || 30—23 || 0—1
| style="font-size:88%" | "#" 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:
Schedule Notes:
Rankings
References
External links ETSU baseball