Southern Arkansas Fall Report: Muleriders Rebuilding the Blueprint for Postseason Glory

The standard for Southern Arkansas baseball remains undeniably high. Coming off a respectable 2025 campaign where the Muleriders finished 31-21 overall and secured a second-place finish in the Great American Conference (GAC) with a 21-11 league record, the program finds itself in a pivotal transition period. Under the guidance of Head Coach Justin Pettigrew, now entering his 10th season with a stellar 306-147 career record (.675 winning percentage) , the Muleriders have been a beacon of consistency, boasting five regional appearance, three GAC Regular Season and Tournament titles, and a World Series appearance during his tenure. However, with a roster that returns only 17.9% of its total production from last spring, the staff faces the challenge of integrating a talented wave of newcomers to maintain their status as a regional powerhouse.

The Offense

The Muleriders’ lineup will look drastically different in 2026, returning just 2.9% of the offensive production from a season ago. The coaching staff has turned aggressively to the transfer portal and player development to fill the void left by key departures. Leading the group of returners is outfielder Glynn Wilson, who saw limited action last spring but is expected to take on a primary role. In 39 ABs hit .282 with one double, one triple, one home run, and 5 RBI last season. Alongside him, Preston Smith and Dalen Blanchard have been highlighted by the coaching staff as developmental success stories, with Pettigrew noting that both have been in the program for a couple of years and have made "significant jumps" that should translate to on-field success this spring.

To bolster the lineup, Southern Arkansas has brought in a crop of junior college transfers expected to make an immediate splash. Wyatt Fielding, a transfer from Rose State College, brings a terrifying bat to the middle of the order. During his time at Rose State, he slashed .414/.520/.707 with 22 extra-base hits, including 8 home runs. He is joined by David Chandler, a middle infielder from JUCO school Cedar Valley who slashed .432/.503/.640 with 11 doubles and 43 RBI while striking out only 17 times over 169 plate appearances.

The Muleriders are also banking on the "blend of power and speed" this new group provides. Ayden Slott, a transfer from Division I Houston Christian, previously hit .331 with 15 doubles and 23 stolen bases at Fort Scott CC in 2024, giving the lineup a dynamic threat who can also cover ground in the outfield. Similarly, Jordan Owns arrives from JUCO Dallas College-Richland after hitting .373 with 10 doubles and 20 stolen bases over 219 plate appearances. Behind the dish, the Muleriders added Jacob Lang, a transfer from UT Arlington, who is described as a middle-of-the-order bat with outstanding defensive skills in controlling the running game. Rounding out the newcomers is first baseman Michael Herndon, a left-handed hitter from Angelina College who hit .357 in 129 at-bats in 2024 and offers the ability to drive the ball from line to line.

The Pitching Staff

While the offense undergoes a makeover, the pitching staff returns a more substantial 41.1% of its innings, though roles will undoubtedly shift. The staff will need to replace the production of ace Jeremy Adorno, but plenty of experienced arms remain. Carter Gaston returns as a senior looking to stabilize the rotation; last season he posted a 2-3 record with a 6.97 ERA in 50.1 IP, striking out 46 batters. He is joined by Stetson Bishop, who made 14 appearances last year, posting a 3-0 record with a 4.91 ERA in 33.0 IP.

The bullpen looks to be a strength, particularly with the return of senior right-hander Cody Edwards. Pettigrew noted that Edwards "had a great fall and should be a guy we can count on to close out games," poised to anchor the back end of games. Other returners expected to contribute include Eli Hutcherson, who posted a 2-1 record with a 5.87 ERA in 23.0 IP last spring , and Asher Hastings, who managed a 4.50 ERA over 16.0 IP.

Newcomers will also play a pivotal role on the mound. Wes Cunningham, a transfer from Howard College, offers relief experience, having allowed just three walks over 31.2 innings across 16 appearances last year. The staff also welcomes Jackson Downing from Johnson County CC, where he maintained a 3.77 ERA over 14.1 innings , and freshman Eli Berry, a prep standout from Bryant High School. With this depth, Pettigrew believes the ability to play the matchup game in the bullpen will be a defining strength for the 2026 staff.

Key Departures

The Muleriders must overcome the loss of highly decorated veterans who were instrumental in their 2022 World Series run. The departure of Jeremy Adorno leaves a significant hole in the rotation; the right-hander was a First Team All-GAC and Second Team All-Central Region selection who famously went 15-0 with a 2.83 ERA during his freshman campaign on the 2022 World Series team. The bullpen also loses First Team All-GAC reliever Austin Adair, who was a reliable force in late innings. Offensively, the team bids farewell to Brandon Nicoll, an Honorable Mention All-GAC after a career that began with a .333 average and 1.022 OPS as part of the 2022 World Series team. The lineup also loses the consistent bats of Trace Shoup and Lee Matsuzaki, both of whom earned Second Team All-GAC honors.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 schedule presents an immediate battle for Southern Arkansas, offering no time to ease into the season. They open on January 30 in Hot Springs against Pittsburg State, a team that finished 42-12 last year and made a Central Super Regional Appearance. This neutral-site opening weekend also features a matchup with Missouri Southern and Fort Hays State, two MIAA Tournament teams. The non-conference slate remains challenging in February with a trip to Cleveland, MS, to face Delta State, the defending Gulf South Champions who finished 33-20 with a South Regional Appearance.

Conference play in the GAC will be as rigorous as ever. The Muleriders will have to navigate series against Arkansas Tech, the defending GAC Champions who won 32 games and made a regional appearance , and Harding, the GAC Tournament Champions who won 41 games last year. A late-season stretch in March and April features critical home series against Henderson State and a road trip to Ouachita Baptist, both of whom were formidable GAC foes in 2025. With a roster rebuilt on speed, athleticism, and a deep bullpen, the Muleriders are eyeing a return to the top of the conference and another deep postseason run. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball