Buckeyes Open 2026 Season Versus Saint Louis at Blue Wahoos Stadium

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State baseball team opens the 2026 season this weekend, hosting Saint Louis for a three-game series at the Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, Fla. Friday, Feb. 13- Sunday, Feb. 15. All three games will stream live on B1G+.

Game 1
Friday, Feb. 13 | 2 p.m. CT/3 p.m. ET
Live Stats | Watch
Probable Starters:
Ohio State – RHP Gavin Kuzniewski
Saint Louis – RHP Ben Cherico

Game 2
Saturday, Feb. 14 | 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET
Live Stats | Watch
Probable Starters:
Ohio State – RHP Pierce Herrenbruck
Saint Louis – RHP Noah Andrunas

Game 3
Sunday, Feb. 15 | 11 a.m. CT/Noon ET
Live Stats | Watch
Probable Starters:
Ohio State – RHP Jude Fisher
Saint Louis - TBD

Ohio State Quick Hitters

The Buckeyes return 15 players from the 2025 squad, and welcome 22 newcomers.
Notably returning to Ohio State is infielder Henry Kaczmar. Kaczmar played for the Buckeyes from 2023-24, being named to the All-Big Ten Second Team in 2024, before transferring to South Carolina for the 2025 season. Kaczmar is back home with the Buckeyes, and reunited on the diamond with his cousin, catcher Mason Eckelman. In his two previous seasons with the Buckeyes, Kaczmar batted .310 with 139 hits, 14 home runs, 91 RBIs and 82 runs scored.
Lee Ellis is the top returning hitter for the Buckeyes. He batted .296 in 2025 with 42 hits, seven home runs, 34 RBIs and 30 runs scored. He was 7-for-8 in stolen bases.
Eckelman batted .281 and recorded 50 hits, nine doubles, five home runs, 29 RBIs and 30 runs scored.
On the mound, sophomore Gavin Kuzniewski picked up three wins in 2025. He fanned 43 in 56 innings pitched and finished the season with a 6.75 ERA.
Douglas Bauer led the Buckeye pitching staff in appearances in 2025 with 21. He compiled a 3-1 record and struck out 30 in 35 innings tossed.

Newcomers to Watch

Two-way player Miles Vandenheuvel joins the Buckeyes after two seasons at Eastern Arizona College. The Scottsdale, Ariz. native batted .297 with 89 hits, 19 doubles, four triples and six home runs. On the mound, he struck out 16 in 15.2 innings pitched. Vandenheuvel was ranked the No. 2 junior college (JUCO) two-way player.
After being sidelined with an injury in 2025, first baseman Dane Harvey looks to make his mark with the Buckeyes in 2026. Harvey comes to Columbus from Cowley Community College. During his freshman season in 2024, he batted an impressive .352 with 13 home runs and 58 RBIs.
On the mound, Pierce Herrenbruck is expected to be a major contributor for the Buckeyes, and will be in the opening weekend rotation. Herrenbruck joins the Buckeyes from Rend Lake College, where he had a 2.4 ERA over 68 innings pitched.
Right-hander Caden Marcum was drafted out of high school by the Texas Rangers in the 13^th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Marcum decided to pursue the college route, and he began his career at Blinn College, where he won the NJCAA National Championship. Marcum spent the 2025 season at Cloud County Community College; he went 6-2 on the mound and struck out 85 in 60.1 innings pitched.
Freshman Jude Fisher is an anticipated weekend starter on the mound for the Buckeyes and will toss Sunday's game on opening weekend. He spent 2025 at the Pro5 Baseball Academy and previously was a three-year letterwinner at Strongsville High School. He was named a Second Team Preseason Underclass All-American in 2024 and was selected as a 2025 Preseason All-American.

Preseason Honors

Mason Eckelman, Lee Ellis and Gavin Kuzniewski were named Big Ten Players to Watch.
Eckelman was named to Perfect Game's Preseason All-Big Ten team.
Henry Kaczmar landed at No. 15 on Perfect Game's top 100 collegiate seniors list.
Jude Fisher was named an Impact Freshman by D1Baseball.

Buckeye Prospects

Lee Ellis, Mason Eckelman and Henry Kaczmar were named as three of the Big Ten's top prospects for the 2026 MLB Draft by D1Baseball
Ellis came in at No. 17, Eckelman was No. 28 and Kaczmar was No. 48.

Up Next

The Buckeyes head to Memphis, Tenn., for the Grind City Classic Feb. 20-22. Ohio State will play two games against Memphis and two games against Louisiana Tech.

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