Jackson, Miss. — For the second consecutive season, Belhaven University baseball has secured a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Blazers received an at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA Division III Regionals and will travel to Marshall, Texas, for the East Texas Baptist Regional, beginning Friday.
Belhaven will open tournament play at 2:30 p.m. CST against Rhodes College. The team enters the postseason with a 31-13 record after making a deep run through the CCS Tournament, reaching the conference championship series for the second year in a row. The Blazers spent much of the season ranked nationally and achieved their highest ranking in program history, reaching No. 4 in the D3baseball.com Top 25 earlier this spring, according to sources.
The team has faced Rhodes twice this season, losing both matchups, including a top-25 meeting in Memphis. Despite those results, Belhaven hopes to carry postseason momentum into Friday’s rematch. The Blazers also hold confidence against East Texas Baptist, having swept the Tigers in a three-game series earlier this season in Jackson, outscoring them 24-8 over the weekend, sources said.
Belhaven has built a balanced team this season, combining timely offense with strong pitching depth. The roster features multiple All-CCS selections, including First Team honorees Parker Ryan, Austin Canale, Gunner Staten, and John Wade. Wade has been a key piece in the bullpen, finishing among the national leaders in saves, while Staten has emerged as one of the top starters in the CCS during his sophomore year.
Offensively, players like Owen Abney, Hayden Roberts, Trey Smith, and Canale have contributed significantly throughout the season and postseason. Abney earned his second All-CCS honor after a strong campaign at the plate. The winner of Friday’s game will advance to the winner’s bracket Saturday at 2:30 p.m., while the losing team will face elimination earlier that day at 11 a.m., according to tournament format.
For updates on Belhaven athletics, fans are encouraged to follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram and like the team’s Facebook page. Supporters can also contribute to Belhaven Athletics through Team Green Giving.
