INDIANAPOLIS – Drury baseball has been tabbed for the No. 4 spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) 2026 Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced Wednesday (Jan. 28).

Drury received 160 points in the poll, including two first-place votes, finishing behind preseason favorite Indianapolis (181) -- which received five first-place votes -- as well as Illinois Springfield (170) and Maryville (169). Rounding out the top 10 was Lewis (139), Quincy (128), Missouri S&T (125), Missouri-St. Louis (124), Upper Iowa (81), Upper Iowa (78) and McKendree (78).

No. School - Points (first-place votes)
1. Indianapolis - 181 (5)
2. Illinois Springfield - 170 (4)
3. Maryville - 169 (2)
4. Drury - 160 (2)
5. Lewis - 139 (1)
6. Quincy - 128
7. Missouri S&T - 125
8. Missouri-St. Louis - 124 (1)
9. Upper Iowa - 81
10. McKendree - 78
11. Rockhurst - 69
12. William Jewell - 66
13. Southwest Baptist - 41
14. Truman State - 30
15. Lincoln - 14

Drury is coming off a 33-23 campaign and 21-11 record in GLVC play, which was good for a fourth-place finish. Ranked eighth in this year's NCBWA Midwest Region Preseason Poll, Drury will return its top four hitters from last season, including Preseason First-Team All-America third baseman Jackson Crider, who led the GLVC in hitting (.434), on-base percentage (.548) and hit by pitches (29) en route to earning First-Team All-Midwest Region honors from the NCBWA. Three additional position players who hit above .300 in 2025 return, including All-GLVC Honorable Mention choice Connor Bain (.321), as well as Carter Wambach (.321) and Luke Matschiner (.310).

On the mound, junior left-hander Kade Biellier returns to anchor DU's bullpen after posting a 2.87 ERA over 14 relief outings last year. Senior RHP Markell Dixon is back to bolster the Panthers' rotation, following a 2025 campaign in which he made 12 starts and struck out 50 hitters while logging the third-most innings (64.2) on the squad. 

Head coach Scott Nasby enters his 14th season at the helm of the DU program, bringing a 367-276 overall record into the 2026 campaign.

Drury will open its 2026 season Feb. 6 with a doubleheader against UAH in Huntsville, Ala.

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