The South Atlantic Conference has long since become a regular at the Division II Baseball Championship, usually sending two teams to the competition. In 2025 the league sent three teams to the NCAA tournament: Catawba, Lenoir-Rhyne and Carson-Newman. 

While C-N was bounced in the regionals, both L-R and Catawba made it to the Super Regionals, with the Bears ultimately moving on to the D2 College World Series. In the end, Lenoir-Rhyne fell to eventual national runner-up Central Missouri, losing two games in a row. 

In 2026, the SAC will be competing with one less team, with Limestone closing its doors in 2025. 

The SAC Coaches Poll predicts Catawba will win the conference with Lenoir-Rhyne and Carson Newman slated for second and third. 

Here’s everything to know about SAC baseball heading into the 2026 season. 

How To Watch SAC Baseball In 2026

SAC baseball is streaming on FloCollege, FloBaseball and the FloSports app.

Live and on-demand coverage is available all season.

2026 SAC Baseball Season OverviewTeams: 12Teams ranked in Preseason Top 25: 2Programs with at least one preseason All-American: 3Defending regular-season champion: Catawba (2025)Defending conference tournament champion: Catawba (2025)2025 SAC Baseball Final StandingsCatawba — 25–5 SAC | 46–14 overallLenoir-Rhyne — 23–7 SAC | 50–15 overallCarson-Newman — 21–9 SAC | 37–19 overallCoker — 17–13 SAC | 30–22 overallLimestone — 17–13 SAC | 27–26 overallWingate — 15–15 SAC | 26–26 overallUVA Wise — 14–16 SAC | 26–24 overallNewberry — 14–16 SAC | 25–27 overallLincoln Memorial — 13–17 SAC | 24–23 overallAnderson — 11–19 SAC | 24–25 overallTusculum — 10–20 SAC | 17–32 overallEmory & Henry — 8–22 SAC | 17–33 overallMars Hill — 7–23 SAC | 14–36 overallSAC Regular-Season Champions2025: Catawba2024: Catawba2023: Newberry2022: Wingate2021: Catawba2020: Season cancelled2019: Newberry2018: Catawba2017: Catawba2016: Catawba2015: CatawbaSAC Tournament Champions2025: Catawba2024: Wingate2023: Newberry2022: Lenoir-Rhyne2021: Wingate2020: No tournament2019: Catawba2018: Lincoln Memorial2017: Lincoln Memorial2016: Catawba; Tusculum2015: WingateSAC Teams Ranked In 2026 NCBWA Preseason PollNo. 5 Catawba — 46–14No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne — 50–15SAC Teams Ranked In 2026 D2 Baseball Preseason Top 25No. 10 Catawba — 46–14No. 13 Lenoir-Rhyne — 50–152026 NCBWA Preseason All-Region (SAC)Nathan Chrismon, SS — CatawbaMackenzie Wainwright, OF — Lenoir-RhyneBraeden Harrison, OF — AndersonKolton Casson, SP — Carson-Newman2026 D2 Baseball Preseason All-Americans (SAC)

First Team

Mackenzie Wainwright, OF — Lenoir-RhyneKolton Casson, SP — Carson-NewmanChad Harvey, RP — Wingate

Second Team

Ryan Higgins, SP — Carson-NewmanNCBWA Preseason National Poll 2026Tampa — 55–10Central Missouri — 48–14UT Tyler — 49–13Northwest Nazarene — 46–16Catawba — 46–14Lenoir-Rhyne — 50–15East Stroudsburg — 41–15Northwood — 40–22Colorado Mesa — 42–14Florida Southern — 38–14–1Minnesota State — 51–8Angelo State — 48–10North Greenville — 45–15Cal State Monterey Bay — 39–19Grand Valley State — 43–14Pittsburg State — 42–12West Florida — 36–21Felician — 43–22Point Loma — 39–18Seton Hill — 40–18Young Harris — 40–17Millersville — 44–10Indianapolis — 34–24Westmont — 43–14Thomas Jefferson — 40–17

Receiving Votes:

St. Edward’s (37–23); Delta State (33–20); Davenport (42–15); Francis Marion (40–13); Bentley (33–15); Arkansas Tech (32–23); Belmont Abbey (41–17); Lubbock Christian (34–23); West Chester (35–17); North Georgia (41–17)

2026 D2 Baseball Preseason Top 25Tampa — 55–10Central Missouri — 48–14East Stroudsburg — 41–16UT Tyler — 49–13Northwest Nazarene — 46–16North Greenville — 45–15Northwood — 40–22Florida Southern — 38–15–1Minnesota State — 51–8Catawba — 46–14Angelo State — 48–10Colorado Mesa — 42–14Lenoir-Rhyne — 50–15Point Loma — 39–18Millersville — 44–10Cal State Monterey Bay — 39–19Westmont — 43–14Grand Valley State — 43–14Seton Hill — 40–18Indianapolis (UIndy) — 34–24Felician — 43–22Belmont Abbey — 41–17Davenport — 42–15California (Pa.) — 38–15West Florida — 36–21

Receiving Votes:

Ashland (37–19); Arkansas Tech (32–23); Augustana (39–16); Carson-Newman (37–19); Francis Marion (40–13); Jefferson (40–17); Lubbock Christian (34–23); Molloy (35–19); Mount Olive (30–21); North Georgia (41–17); Rollins (29–19–1); Slippery Rock (31–19); Southern New Hampshire (32–16); West Chester (35–17); Young Harris (40–17)

College Baseball Series At Globe Life Field Schedule 2026Shriners Children’s College ShowdownFeb. 13, 2026Feb. 14, 2026Feb. 15, 2026Amegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 2Feb. 20, 2026Feb. 21, 2026Feb. 22, 2026Amegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 3Feb. 27, 2026Feb. 28, 2026Mar. 1, 2026FloBaseball Archived Footage

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