Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Kolbi Media
Baseball Picked Third in MAC Preseason Poll
February 11, 2026 | Baseball
The Ball State baseball team has been picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference by the league's head coaches in the MAC preseason poll released Wednesday afternoon.
The Cardinals got two first place votes to win the regular season crown and two to win the conference tournament. Miami (six first place votes, 114 points) and Kent State (four first place votes, 111 points) were the teams picked ahead of Ball State.
Complete poll results can be found below.
Ball State went 36-22 (21-9 MAC) in the 2025 season for a third-place finish in the regular season standings.
The Cardinals return two-time First Team All-MAC selection Keegan Johnson along with veteran relievers Owen Quinn, John Chambers, Alex Burden and Zach Leduc to headline the pitching staff. Senior Gavin Balius is the team's leading returning hitter after tallying 54 hits for a .303 average and stealing a team-best 22 bases in 2025.
The season opener is set for Noon on Friday against St. John's in DeLand, Fla.
Â
2026 MAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)
Â
The Cardinals got two first place votes to win the regular season crown and two to win the conference tournament. Miami (six first place votes, 114 points) and Kent State (four first place votes, 111 points) were the teams picked ahead of Ball State.
Complete poll results can be found below.
Ball State went 36-22 (21-9 MAC) in the 2025 season for a third-place finish in the regular season standings.
The Cardinals return two-time First Team All-MAC selection Keegan Johnson along with veteran relievers Owen Quinn, John Chambers, Alex Burden and Zach Leduc to headline the pitching staff. Senior Gavin Balius is the team's leading returning hitter after tallying 54 hits for a .303 average and stealing a team-best 22 bases in 2025.
The season opener is set for Noon on Friday against St. John's in DeLand, Fla.
Â
2026 MAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)
- Miami (6) – 114 pointsÂ
- Kent State (4) – 111 points
- Ball State (2) – 107 pointsÂ
- Toledo – 86 points
- Bowling Green – 83 points
- Western Michigan – 65 points
- Central Michigan – 54 points
- Northern Illinois – 42 points
- Eastern Michigan – 41 points
- Akron – 40 points
- Ohio – 36 points
- UMass – 13 points
Â
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
P
/ BaseballThis Week in Ball State Sports // Guests: World Series Champion Alex Call and AD Jeff Mitchell
Thursday, January 22
Sports Link: Michael Shebek's Power of Beneficence
Friday, November 07
Homecoming // Cardinal Sinners! Presented by Gameday Spirit
Friday, October 17
Baseball // 5 AM Workouts
Tuesday, August 26