Opening day for college baseball fans in Arkansas and Louisiana brought plenty of drama, big swings, and new faces making their mark as the 2026 season got underway. Lindenwood, Central Arkansas, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe all took the field on Friday, February 13, with each program eager to set the tone for the long campaign ahead. While Lindenwood split a doubleheader in Pine Bluff, Central Arkansas faced a tough setback on the road in Monroe, Louisiana.
Let’s start in Pine Bluff, where the Lindenwood Lions squared off against Arkansas Pine Bluff in a doubleheader that had a bit of everything—sharp pitching, clutch hitting, and wild momentum shifts. The Lions wasted no time making a statement in game one, riding opportunistic offense and nearly flawless pitching to a convincing 6-1 victory. With half of their runs coming unearned, Lindenwood capitalized on six UAPB errors, showing just how vital clean defense can be in early-season matchups.
Jake Radosevich set the tone at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double and driving in a run, while Kam Edwards flashed his power with a pair of doubles. Freshman Will Geary made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut, collecting two hits in five at-bats and notching an RBI. Charlie Isom-McCall led the Lions with two RBIs, underscoring the depth of Lindenwood’s lineup. On the mound, Josh Newell was all business, tossing six innings of four-hit ball and not allowing an earned run. Aaron Jungers slammed the door with three scoreless relief innings, striking out five and earning the save.
"We just tried to stay aggressive and take advantage of every opportunity," said Radosevich after the opener, echoing a sentiment that seemed to define Lindenwood’s approach all afternoon. The Lions jumped on UAPB early, scoring two runs in the first inning after Geary’s single was sandwiched between walks from Edwards and Isom-McCall. Radosevich’s RBI base hit and a sacrifice fly from William Zareh put Lindenwood up 2-0. The game settled into a tense pitcher’s duel until the fifth, when UAPB cut the deficit to 2-1 on a two-out error. But Lindenwood responded immediately, with Geary’s RBI single and a key sacrifice bunt from Mathew Graf restoring the two-run cushion.
The Lions weren’t done. In the eighth, Isom-McCall’s double down the left field line plated two more runs, and a subsequent error allowed him to score, pushing the lead to 6-1. UAPB threatened in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with one out, but Jungers and Isom-McCall delivered a strikeout and a diving catch to end the rally. Lindenwood cruised through the ninth, sealing a five-run win that set a high bar for the rest of the weekend.
Game two, however, was a different story—a back-and-forth slugfest featuring four lead changes and more than 20 combined hits. Lindenwood ultimately fell 8-6, unable to hold onto a two-run lead after a wild fifth inning. Will Geary continued his hot start, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases. Filip Sarota and Isom-McCall each chipped in with two hits, and Tyler Ellis drove in two runs.
The Lions took a 2-1 lead in the fourth after Zareh doubled and scored on a Sarota single, with Sarota later crossing the plate on a wild pitch. But UAPB answered with a three-run burst, highlighted by Joe Adams’s RBI triple and a Blake Coleman two-run homer. Lindenwood stormed back in the fifth, tying the game on a Radosevich sacrifice fly and a daring steal of home by Isom-McCall. Pederson’s clutch two-out single gave the Lions a 6-4 lead, but UAPB responded with four unanswered runs over the final four innings. Luke Walsh took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the seventh, and despite late opportunities, Lindenwood couldn’t mount another comeback.
"We left too many chances on the table and let the momentum slip away," said head coach (name not provided), reflecting on the missed opportunities. Ethan Smith started for Lindenwood, giving up four runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 4.2 innings. The Lions will look to regroup as the series continues Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m., with plenty still to play for.
Meanwhile, in Monroe, Louisiana, Central Arkansas opened their season against ULM but ran into a buzzsaw, falling 11-2 in a lopsided contest. The Bears managed to keep things close through five innings, but a huge sixth inning by ULM blew the game wide open. After ULM jumped ahead in the third on a hit-by-pitch, a walk, and a pair of RBI plays, Central Arkansas answered in the fourth. Casey Shipley’s single and a throwing error allowed Jayden Sloan to score, narrowing the gap to 2-1. The Bears kept the pressure on in the fifth, with Parker Gwyn scoring on Zeb Allen’s sacrifice fly to make it 3-2.
But that’s when the wheels came off. ULM loaded the bases in the sixth and cashed in with a two-RBI single and a crushing three-run homer, ballooning the lead to 10-2. A sacrifice fly in the seventh tacked on another run for the Warhawks, putting the game out of reach. Central Arkansas cycled through four pitchers—J. Williams, J. Pannell, S. Curtis, and K. Nesslage—but the ULM bats proved relentless. Williams allowed two earned runs in three innings, while Pannell was tagged for six earned runs in two innings of relief. Curtis surrendered a two-run homer in his lone inning, and Nesslage finished the game with two innings, giving up just one run.
Despite the loss, there were bright spots for the Bears. Jack Runsick was a defensive stalwart at third base, recording five assists. Sloan and Negre each had a hit, with Negre also handling two assists at shortstop. Gwyn reached base after being hit by a pitch, scored a run, and contributed three defensive assists at second base. The Bears will have a chance to bounce back quickly, with game two of the four-game series scheduled for Saturday, February 14 at 1:00 p.m. in Monroe.
Opening weekend has already delivered plenty of excitement, with Lindenwood and Central Arkansas both facing early tests and learning valuable lessons. As the series continue, fans can expect more twists, standout performances, and maybe even a few surprises. With so many new faces and high hopes, the 2026 college baseball season is just getting started—and there’s no telling what’s in store next.