From Power Five ballparks to competitive mid-major matchups, GRB Rays alumni were active all across Division I baseball to kick off the 2026 season. Whether it was clutch hits, quality innings on the mound, or steady defensive play, former Rays made their presence felt immediately. Opening weekend wasn’t just about team debuts — it was another reminder of the impact GRB players continue to have at the next level.
Here’s a full recap of how GRB Rays alumni performed during the first weekend of the 2026 college baseball season.
Braden Smith was impressive in his UCF debut on Opening Knight, delivering a strong outing on the mound as the Knights cruised to a 16-0 run-rule victory over Siena. In that game, Smith worked 6.0 shutout innings, allowing just 5 hits with 0 runs, 0 earned runs, 5 strikeouts, and 1 walk en route to earning the win for UCF.
Cal Fisher was one of the most productive bats in FSU’s offense during their weekend series vs. James Madison, especially in the run-rule 16–5 win on Feb. 14. In that game he finished with 4 hits, including multiple RBI contributions — driving in 5 runs and scoring as part of the Seminoles’ big offensive outburst. Over the span of the series, Fisher consistently reached base and was one of the few Seminoles to do so in both games.
Jake Schaffner had a strong showing in UNC’s opening series at Indiana, going 2-for-5 with a run scored and a triple on Feb. 14. He scored 1 run and collected 2 hits in that game, helping spark the Tar Heels’ offense in a 4–3 extra-innings victory. His performance provided early lineup production and showcased his ability to impact the game with extra-base hits.
Noah Wech was solid out of the bullpen for Oklahoma State during the Shriners Children’s College Showdown against Vanderbilt on Feb. 15, earning the win with 3 ⅓ innings pitched, allowing 1 run on 1 hit, walking 3, and striking out 4. His relief outing stabilized the OSU staff and helped the Cowboys secure an 11–1 win over the Commodores.
Joey Nerat had a productive opening weekend for the Iowa Hawkeyes, helping anchor the lineup with consistent contact and run-producing at-bats across multiple contests. On Feb. 14 vs. Air Force, Nerat finished 3-for-4 with 1 run scored, collecting three hits in Iowa’s 4–3 victory
Dominic Kibler stood out offensively for Milwaukee, recording multiple hits and driving in runs in both games he saw action. His solo home run on Feb. 15 provided the Panthers with an early lead in the final game, and his clutch RBI single on Feb. 14 kept Milwaukee competitive late in that contest.
Tate Schmidt provided one of Milwaukee’s most impactful hits of the weekend with a double on Feb. 14 that ignited a late rally and eventually led to a run. Though the Panthers couldn’t complete the comeback, Schmidt’s extra-base hit was a highlight for the Milwaukee offense.
Landen Lozier played in multiple games during Kansas’s opening series at UTRGV and made a couple of key offensive contributions. On Feb. 14 and Feb. 15, he recorded at least one hit and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, helping Kansas clinch an 8–7 series-winning victory on Sunday. In the Feb. 15 box score he was 1-for-1 with 1 RBI and 1 walk, and earlier in the weekend he added another hit and scored, showing consistency at the plate.
Preston Yaucher made his collegiate debut for Penn State and delivered one of the more complete individual performances from this group during Penn State’s Feb. 15 matchup versus Kansas State. He went 2-for-3 with 1 RBI, accounting for nearly half of the Nittany Lions’ offensive production in that contest.
Gabe Roessler anchored Missouri State’s powerful offense over the opening weekend, helping the Bears erase a big early deficit with timely extra-base hits and scoring multiple runs in the extra-innings 13-12 victory. His combination of a double, home run, and overall aggression on the basepaths made him one of the most dangerous bats in the lineup during the series opener — and he was consistently in the action whenever Missouri State needed offense.
Josh Cottrill opened the 2026 season strong out of the bullpen for the Longwood Lancers during their weekend action. In the Feb. 14 home game vs. NJIT, Cottrill threw 3.0 shutout innings in relief, allowing 0 hits and 0 runs while striking out 5 batters and walking 2. His performance preserved Longwood’s lead and earned him the save in the 10–1 victory.
Aaron Jungers was a crucial piece of Lindenwood’s pitching staff on Opening Weekend, coming in to shut down the Arkansas-Pine Bluff offense after his teammate worked six strong innings. His 3-scoreless-inning relief performance — highlighted by five strikeouts and no hits allowed — helped secure a convincing Lions victory to kick off the season.
Jackson Hunley’s two-hit performance — including a triple that drove in both of Lewis’s early runs — set the tone offensively for the Flyers in their season opener. He also added a sacrifice fly later in the game to bring in another run, finishing as a key contributor in Lewis’s win. On the mound, Carter Endisch made an immediate impact out of the bullpen in Lewis’s Feb. 13 season opener vs. Cedarville, coming in for relief and earning the save. Endisch pitched 1.0 inning, allowing 0 hits and 1 run, while issuing 2 walks and striking out 1 to close out the game with a save.
Evan Gustafson was one of the Bison’s brightest offensive performers in the opening series, highlighted by his clutch home run and multi-RBI night in a wild extra-innings affair on Feb. 14. He consistently put the ball in play and found ways to generate runs, helping keep NDSU in the thick of a back-and-forth battle even in defeat. Kaden Connor’s made his collegiate debut and his weekend was defined by strong situational at-bats and some key offensive plays, including a base hit and smart baserunning that helped sustain rallies. Even though the Bison dropped all three games, he showed grit against a potent FGCU pitching staff by turning solid contact into productive at-bats.
Justin Gorski’s 2026 season for Maryville has begun with a solid mix of hitting and situational offense. His early homers and multiple hits helped Maryville in key victories, while his ability to get on base and score has consistently put pressure on opposing defenses. Defensively, he’s been reliable and error-free in the field.
Terek Verhage made his collegiate debut over the weekend and saw action in the Feb. 15 contest, collecting 1 hit in 3 at-bats (though St. Thomas fell 13-2 in that game) — giving him a weekend total of at least 1-for-5 with 1 run scored across the two box scores that list him. On the mound, Landon Majerus appeared on the mound in the Feb. 15 game at Abilene Christian, entering in relief early as the Tommies tried to slow the Wildcats’ offense. Majerus picked up a strikeout.
Noah Filer made his debut for Purdue, throwing a third of an inning.
