WINONA, Minn. – The wait is over, Cardinal baseball is back!
The 2026 season officially gets underway tomorrow, and the energy surrounding the Saint Mary's baseball program is high. The Cardinals head to Tucson, Ariz., to open the year with a three-game series against Luther College, trading in Midwest chill for some sunshine to kick things off.
First pitch flies at 5:00 p.m. (CT) tomorrow, followed by a 1:00 p.m. (CT) matchup on Saturday and an 11:00 a.m. (CT) finale on Sunday.
The Tucson trip is just the beginning. After a quick return north, the Cardinals will pack their bags again for their annual Florida swing from March 1–7, playing eight games in a week-long stretch.
"This marks year 18 for me, but I'm just as excited this year as I was in year one," said head coach Nick Winecke. "We demand the best from each other every day. We've got a great mix of veterans and young guys. This is a fun group and they compete."
Following their early-season travel, Saint Mary's returns to the Midwest for a tournament at Millikin University on March 14–15 before finally making their long-awaited home debut. The Cardinals host University of Wisconsin–Superior for a doubleheader home opener on March 21 and 22, with both days starting at 1:00 p.m.
Conference play begins March 28 with a road trip to Saint John's University and from there, the intensity only builds.
"Every year is different," Winecke added. "My job is to get everyone moving in the same direction with the same goals. When they care about what we do every day, special things can happen and I think this group has that in them."
The Cardinals enter 2026 hungry. After finishing 22-16 overall last season, their highest win total since 2021, and posting a strong 13-7 conference mark, Saint Mary's narrowly missed the postseason. This year, the expectations are higher.
Leading the charge are returning All-Conference standouts Stephen Golden, Eric Stomberg, and Connor Tulley.
Mark your calendars for Alumni Day on April 11, when the Cardinals host Augsburg University for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader. Senior Day follows on April 26 against St. Olaf College at 1:00 p.m., before the regular season wraps up May 1 at Carleton College.
The postseason spotlight shifts to St. Paul, where the conference tournament will be held May 7–9 at CHS Field.
"We've had a great dynamic this preseason," Winecke said. "Everyone's working hard. They're consistent. They're competing. They're ready to bring their best every single day."
It all starts tomorrow and the Cardinals are ready.
