The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and the anticipation in the dugouts—college baseball is back, and this year’s Opening Weekend is shaping up to be one for the ages. The 2026 season kicks off with a flurry of games across six time zones, and nowhere is the energy more palpable than at John Euliano Park in Orlando, where the Siena Saints are set to launch their campaign against perennial powerhouse Central Florida. It’s a matchup that’s become a tradition: for the 12th time in the past 15 years, Siena opens its season on UCF’s turf, and fans are eager to see if this year’s Saints can finally flip the script.
The three-game set, running from February 13 to February 15, 2026, promises plenty of drama. Siena’s senior southpaw Tyler Sausville, who closed out games last season, will take the mound for Opening Day on Friday at 6 p.m., facing UCF’s new right-hander Braden Smith. Game two on Saturday features Siena’s Matt Murtagh, a transfer from North Carolina A&T, squaring off against UCF’s Joey Trombley, a former Sacred Heart standout. The series finale on Sunday brings Siena’s lefty Sam Falace against UCF’s Cameron Wicker. Every pitch, swing, and diving catch will be broadcast live on ESPN+, giving fans everywhere a front-row seat.
For Siena, this isn’t just another season opener—it’s the next step in a remarkable turnaround. The Saints, under third-year head coach Alex Jurczynski, are coming off their most successful year in a decade. They posted 22 wins in 2025, a 10-game improvement over the previous season and the highest total in nine years. That surge propelled them to a tie for third place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and secured their first MAAC Tournament berth in four years. Not bad for a squad that was predicted to finish 11th out of 13 teams, according to the preseason coaches’ poll. "We’re here to prove the doubters wrong again," said Jurczynski in a preseason interview, reflecting the gritty spirit that’s come to define his tenure.
The Saints’ offense returns nearly intact, with eight of nine starting position players back in the lineup and an influx of 11 newcomers—six freshmen and five transfers—ready to make their mark. Leading the charge are Preseason All-MAAC selections Aidan Paradine and Jake Sparks, who form the heart of a lineup that’s as potent as any in the conference. Paradine, who was a Second Team All-MAAC pick as a freshman and earned ABCA/Rawlings Second Team All-Region honors, dazzled last season with a .370 batting average (third in the MAAC) and a .474 on-base percentage (fourth in the league). He led the Saints in hits (71), runs scored (48), and OPS (1.010), cementing his status as one of the most dangerous bats in the conference.
Not to be outdone, Sparks—now a junior—belted 14 home runs, good for a tie for sixth in the MAAC, and racked up 16 doubles and 128 total bases. His consistency was jaw-dropping: a 24-game on-base streak and a team-best 19-game hitting streak late in the spring. With three-year starters Nick Bergamotto and Gavin Thorburn also returning, Siena’s offense boasts experience and firepower. The Saints bring back hitters responsible for all 37 of last year’s home runs, as well as 89% of the team’s RBI, 85% of hits, and 84% of runs scored. If you’re looking for a lineup that can put up crooked numbers, Siena’s got you covered.
The pitching staff, however, is undergoing a transformation. With the entire 2025 weekend rotation—including ace Alistair Morin, the program’s first First Team All-MAAC honoree in six years—moving on, new faces will need to step up. Sausville, who led the Saints with five saves and a 3.55 ERA in conference play last year, is the lone returnee with significant innings, but he’s no stranger to pressure. The Xavier transfer finished the season strong, posting a 4-1 record in league action and demonstrating poise in big moments. Siena also welcomes back seven pitchers who made double-digit appearances last season, providing a foundation of experience as the staff finds its rhythm.
The Saints’ 2026 schedule is ambitious: 52 games, including 21 at Connors Park—the most home games in 18 years. After the opening weekend in Orlando, Siena heads to face 2025 NCAA Tournament participant Wake Forest, then wraps up February with a neutral-site series against UMass at Ripken Stadium in Maryland. It’s a gauntlet that will test the Saints early and often, but with their blend of returning stars and hungry newcomers, they’re eager for the challenge.
Standing in Siena’s way this weekend is a UCF squad with a storied history in the matchup. The Knights finished 29-26 last year, leading the Big 12 in batting average (.319—sixth in the nation), on-base percentage, ERA, and WHIP. Despite those gaudy numbers, they were picked to finish 10th out of 14 in the Big 12 Preseason Poll, but outfielder Andrew Williamson did earn a spot on the Big 12 Preseason Team. UCF has dominated the all-time series, leading 70-4 and riding a 32-game winning streak against the Saints since Siena’s last victory—a 7-4 triumph way back on February 16, 2013. All 74 games between the programs have been played in Orlando, adding a layer of history and challenge for the visitors.
Elsewhere in the college baseball world, the 2026 season’s Opening Weekend is stacked with marquee matchups and showcases for top MLB Draft prospects. Houston and No. 21 Wake Forest get things started in Ponce, Puerto Rico, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern on Friday, while the Shriner’s Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas, and the MLB Desert Invitational in Phoenix spotlight some of the game’s brightest young stars. Thirteen of the top 20 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Draft Prospects list hail from college programs, including No. 1 Roch Cholowsky (UCLA), No. 3 Justin Lebron (Alabama), and No. 5 Drew Burress (Georgia Tech). Many of these prospects will be suiting up for top-25 ranked teams, with matchups like UCLA vs. UC San Diego, LSU vs. Milwaukee, and TCU facing a gauntlet of Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Oklahoma State.
The MLB Desert Invitational, running February 13–16, will feature eight top programs in Phoenix, with games streaming live on MLB.TV, MLB.com, and the MLB app. Select games will also air on MLB Network, bringing the action to fans nationwide. It’s a feast for baseball lovers, with the road to Omaha officially underway.
As the first pitch approaches in Orlando, all eyes are on the Saints and the Knights. Will Siena’s rebuilt pitching staff and veteran lineup finally snap UCF’s stranglehold on the series? Or will the Knights extend their dominance and set the tone for another strong campaign? One thing’s certain: with college baseball’s opening weekend in full swing, the only guarantee is unpredictability—and plenty of highlights to come.