LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska Wesleyan University baseball program enters the 2026 season positioned as one of the American Rivers Conference's most experienced and battle-tested clubs, returning the bulk of its roster after a runner-up finish at last year's A-R-C Tournament. With a year of postseason success and continuity under head coach Jeff Christy, the Prairie Wolves have set their sights on taking the final step in 2026.
Nebraska Wesleyan finished the 2025 campaign with a 25-21 overall record, highlighted by a 10-14 mark in conference play and a late-season surge that carried the Prairie Wolves to the A-R-C championship game. Offensively, the numbers reflected a very productive lineup. NWU hit .287 as a team, scored 289 runs with 86 doubles, showcasing a consistent, gap-to-gap approach that kept pressure on opposing defenses.
That offensive identity returns largely intact. Christy, set to begin his second season at the helm after a runner-up finish in his debut year, will rely heavily on veteran presence throughout the lineup. Four players who started at least 20 games a year ago are back in uniform, providing experience at key positions and stability within the batting order.
Leading that group is senior Easton Johnson, a Second Team All-Conference selection in 2025. During his junior season, Johnson paced the Prairie Wolves with a .324 batting average, 56 hits, and 41 RBI while posting a .520 slugging percentage. His ability to drive the baseball to all parts of the field made him a focal point in the middle of the order and a consistent run producer during conference play.
Senior Duncan Ortega returns as another established offensive contributor. Ortega finished the 2025 season with a .282 average, collecting 48 hits and scoring 29 runs. His contact ability helped Nebraska Wesleyan maintain offensive rhythm throughout the lineup, particularly during its postseason run.
Senior Brady Bell anchors the first base position once again and brings a unique two-way impact to the Prairie Wolves. Bell earned All-Conference honors for the second consecutive season in 2025, receiving honorable mention after a Second Team selection in 2024. During A-R-C play, he recorded nine RBI, added extra-base power, and scored 10 runs. Bell also served as Nebraska Wesleyan's primary closer, leading the team with eight saves and providing reliability at the back end of the bullpen.
The Prairie Wolves' offensive success a year ago was paired with a pitching staff that consistently missed bats. NWU hurlers combined for 313 strikeouts in 2025 and several experienced arms return to build on that foundation.
Junior Owen Duckworth headlines the veteran rotation after earning Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition last season. Duckworth posted a 3.81 ERA in conference play, striking out 29 batters over 26 innings. His ability to limit damage and work deep into outings provided stability for Christy's staff.
Out of the bullpen, senior Tyler Spreitzer brings experience and consistency after making a team-high 15 relief appearances in 2025. Spreitzer's role as a dependable option in high-leverage situations will again be important as Nebraska Wesleyan navigates a competitive conference schedule.
"Our goal, like every year, is to be consistent in what we do and continue building a winning culture," Christy said. "Postseason baseball is what you play for, and that's what we're striving for."
Nebraska Wesleyan was picked fifth in the 2026 A-R-C Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 33 points. The Prairie Wolves trail Coe, Buena Vista, Wartburg, and Luther in the preseason rankings, while finishing ahead of Loras, Central, the University of Dubuque, and Simpson.
Christy's staff also gains a new addition with the hiring of full-time assistant coach Mitch Lawson, who will oversee the infield and assist with hitting. Lawson's presence is expected to further develop an offensive unit that already demonstrated the ability to produce runs in multiple ways.
The Prairie Wolves open the 2026 season at home at NWU Stadium at Sandhills Global Youth Complex, hosting a triangular series against Mayville State and Hastings on Saturday, February 21. Nebraska Wesleyan remains at home the following weekend for a four-game set against Grinnell College on Feb. 28–March 1.
Those six games lead into the program's annual Spring Break trip to Pensacola, Florida, where NWU is scheduled to play seven games from March 10–15. The trip is highlighted by playing two games against Wisconsin-Whitewater, the defending NCAA Division III national champions and the preseason No. 1 team in the country.
Conference play begins March 20 at home against Luther. Nebraska Wesleyan will close the regular season with its final seven games on home turf, positioning the Prairie Wolves to make a late push toward another postseason run.
With an experienced lineup, a proven offensive approach, and increased depth bolstered by 24 incoming players, Nebraska Wesleyan enters 2026 focused on consistency, development, and returning to the conference championship stage.
