Conway, Ark.- As the 2026 Baseball season approaches. The ASUN Conference has released the Preseason All ASUN Team and 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Zeb Allen, a Junior from Fort Smith, Ark was named to the Preseason All ASUN team. Last season the Outfielder played in 55 games, had a .295 batting average with 62 hits, had 17 doubles, scored 55 runs, hit 9 HRs, had 37 RBIs and stole 15 bases. The Bears will look to Allen this season for production and leadership.
 
Coach Nick Harlan, "I am thankful for Zeb Allen. He is a difference maker. Zeb is talented, tough, and loyal. The consistency of how he operates every day is contagious and creates accountability with the rest of our team. He is a pro."
 
Last season the Bears went 20-35 overall and 10-18 in ASUN games finishing in 4^th place in the ASUN Gold Division. Going into the 2026 season the ASUN Coaches predict that the Bears will finish in 4^th place, the Bears received one 1^st place vote, in the Gold Division.
 
Coach Nick Harlan, "This team is doing a great job of focusing on the fundamental things that lead to winning. They show up every day with energy ready to improve. They respond to teaching in a very mature way. The best teams understand the value of each day and this team does. I'm excited to watch them compete together." 
 
The Bears open the 2026 season at ULM with a four game series starting on February 13th.

2026 ASUN Baseball Preseason Awards 
Preseason Player of the Year: Ray Velazquez, Austin Peay and Evan Dempsey, FGCU
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Juan De La Cruz, Stetson 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Jake Gorelick, Stetson 
 
Preseason All-ASUN Team
Name, Position, School
Cody Airington SP Austin Peay
Evan Dempsey SP FGCU
Chris Diaz SP FGCU
Jake Gorelick RP Stetson
Trevor Conley C Austin Peay
Cole Johnson 1B Austin Peay
Kyler Proctor 2B Austin Peay
Ray Velazquez 3B Austin Peay 
Landon Akers SS Bellarmine
Zeb Allen OF Central Arkansas
Jonah Shields OF Jacksonville 
Evan Dempsey OF FGCU
Foster Apple OF Stetson
Conner Spelman DH Jacksonville 
*a tie in voting resulted in a 14-person team.               
 
Gold Division Preseason Coaches Poll
Place, Team (1st Place Votes), Points
1.  Austin Peay (4) 34
2. Lipscomb 28
3. North Alabama (1) 23
4. Central Arkansas (1) 18
5.  EKU 15
6. Bellarmine 8  
 
Graphite Division Preseason Coaches Poll
Place, Team (1st Place Votes), Points
1.  Stetson (4) 34
2. FGCU (2) 30
3. Jacksonville 21
4. North Florida 19
5.  West Georgia 12
6. Queens 10