Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

UWG Wolves | Athletic Programs | Official Athletics Site

Scoreboard

Schedule

Official Website of the UWG Wolves
Baseball

UWG Baseball Opens Season This Friday

2/11/2026 9:42:00 AM

By: Danny Talbert
CARROLLTON, Ga. - It's been over nine months since the West Georgia baseball team suited up to play, but the wait is finally over. The 2026 UWG baseball season is on deck and the Wolves are stepping into the batter's box this weekend, taking on a four-game home series vs Central Michigan University. Game one is set for 4:30 p.m. on Friday, and it will be followed by a Saturday doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday game. 

The upcoming weekend series marks the first time UWG (0-0) and CMU (0-0) have faced off on the diamond. Remarkably, both teams are coming off 20-win seasons that featured 11 victories in their respective conferences. Last season, the Wolves went 20-31 overall and 11-19 in the ASUN, while the Chippewas went 20-35 overall and 11-19 in the MAC. 

This year's UWG squad is made up of 42 players, featuring 21 transfers, 16 returners and five true freshmen. Totaling 38 Chippewas, CMU is composed of 22 returners, 12 college transfers and four true freshmen. 

One West Georgia returner looking to make a statement on the mound is senior right-handed pitcher Gavin Mask. Appearing in a team-high 19 games last season, Mask tallied 24 strikeouts through his 22 innings on the mound. Recording a 2-1 record, the Covington, Georgia native's .667 win percentage was the best for UWG last year. One of Mask's strongest performances was when he held North Florida scoreless for 4.2 innings while totaling two strikeouts and only conceding one hit. 

Another Wolf coming off an excellent 2025 campaign is senior Landon Weidner. Highlighted by making a pair of diving outs at No. 2 Tennessee and robbing a New Orleans home run at the fence, Weidner made multiple memorable plays covering the right side of the outfield in his 46 appearances last year. At the plate, the Texas native recorded 41 hits, 27 RBIs, 19 runs, eight doubles, three homers and a triple. Weidner also ranked third on the team with 10 multi-hit performances.  

One new face the UWG faithful will quickly get to know is junior outfielder Anthony Cole. Transferring in with former teammate Fano Cruz from Pasco-Hernando State, the duo played a key role in the Bobcats' 2025 DII JUCO National Championship run. Competing in 58 games last season, Cole recorded .301 batting average and a .492 slugging percentage, finishing the year ranked sixth in conference with 48 RBIs, placed fourth in conference with 17 doubles and ranked tenth with six home runs. Defensively, he was reliable in the outfield, recording 96 putouts, five assists, a .981 fielding percentage, and one turned double play.

You can read more about the West Georgia Pack by clicking here to view the season preview or scrolling to the top of the page for game notes.

Looking at CMU, the Chippewas brought back last season's batting average leader and primary catcher, Aydin Wright. Recording a .345 batting average, Wright ranked 11th in the MAC, while he led the league in throwing out 17 would-be base runners. In addition to leading the team in these categories, the now-senior led CMU last year with a .429 on-base percentage, ranked third in hits (51) and multi-hit games (15), and was fourth in doubles (12). 

Along with bringing back one of last season's main catchers, the Chippewas also return the 2025 Sunday starter, redshirt junior Jared Hanson. Starting 10 of his 15 appearances, Hanson accumulated the second-most innings on the mound for CMU (57.6 innings), recorded the third-most strikeouts (32) and led the starters with a 5.46 ERA.  

Opening Day's (Feb. 13) first pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at Cole Field. A link to live stats in tagged at the top of the page.
Print Friendly Version