PITMAN, N.J. – The TCNJ baseball team was picked to finish seventh in this year's NJAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced this morning.

The Lions enter the 2026 season off the back of a 2025 campaign where they went 28-19-1 overall and made the program's second-ever appearance in an NCAA Regional Final. In NJAC play last year, TCNJ ranked third in batting average (.306) and second in ERA (4.04) en route to an NJAC Championship game appearance.

The team underwent a litany of changes over the offseason, including bringing in a new head coach in Chris Collazo. Evan Frank and John DiCostanzo highlight the returning talent on the mound. A year ago, Frank logged a 3.15 ERA and three saves in 19 appearances, while DiCostanzo notched a 4.94 ERA in 13 appearances (three starts).

Offensively, Jack O'Donnell, Jake Carter, and Brian Lovaglio highlight the returners. O'Donnell was the most prolific Lion in the batter's box from a year ago, batting .277 while logging 37 RBIs. Jake Carter saw his season cut short due to injury, but will be looking to build off of a 2025 season in which he batted .304 in 46 at-bats. Finally, Lovaglio returns as TCNJ's presumptive starter behind the plate after hitting .250 last year.

This year, Kean collected eight first place votes to top the preseason poll. Rowan was picked second while collecting one first-place vote, while Ramapo took third place to round out the top three. Stockton was tabbed the 'dark horse' in sixth, while NJCU collected the last first-place vote despite being picked to finish in last place.

TCNJ will begin their season with a showdown against RIT on Friday, February 20.