SEASON PREVIEW: UHSP 4th in AMC, two named Preseason All-Conf.

ST. LOUIS, MO - The 2026 baseball is fast approaching and UHSP is hoping to continue their upward trajectory that 2025 offered. A season ago, the Eutectics went 22-30 and 16-20 in the American Midwest Conference. They doubled their overall win total from the previous year and made their first-ever AMC Postseason Tournament. On the heels of that season, UHSP was picked to finish fourth this season in the Coaches' Preseason Poll with 35 points, just two points behind Central Baptist who also received one of the seven first-place votes. Columbia topped the list with six first-place votes and 48 overall points. Mission was second with 40 points. Both the Cougars and Patriots reached the AMC Tournament Semifinals last year. Columbia lost in the tournament finals.

The AMC this season announced a Preseason All-Conference Team. UHSP saw Brandon Gibbs, Barrett Lohman and Jacob Grim named to the 15-player list. Gibbs led the Eutectics in hitting with a .394 average, stole a team-high 36 bases and finished the season on a 20-game hitting streak that he will carry into this year. Lohman was easily the ace of the staff. He logged a team-high 71.2IP, had a second-best 4.65 ERA, was second on the staff with 71 strikeouts and highlighted the season with a complete-game, 10-strikeout gem against 19th-ranked Missouri Baptist leading the Eutectics to their first-ever win over the Spartans. Grim gave UHSP some power in leftfield last year as a freshman. His .300 average was fourth on the team. His 45 hits were third on the club and both his seven homeruns and 38 runs-batted-in ranked second.

2026 AMC Baseball Coaches' Preseason Poll

AMC Baseball Preseason All-Conference

Brayden Mayencourt, Central Baptist

Garrett Fitts, Central Baptist

George Astacio, Central Baptist

Ryan Dauphinee, Central Baptist

Dylan Carlton, Columbia

Hunter Hees, Columbia

Tyler Renn, Columbia

Zac Fruend, Columbia

Brandon Gibbs, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Barrett Lohman, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Jacob Grim, Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Sam Golden, Mission

Trey Mulholland, Mission

Gavin Mink, Williams Baptist

Lawson Aaron, Williams Baptist

As the Eutectics gear up for the new season, we sat down with Head Coach Rick Heines as he embarks on his third season piloting the UHSP program.

Q: There seems to be a general upward trajectory with this program. Last year, you doubled your win total from the year before and also made the AMC Conference Tournament for the first time. As the program enters Year 3, what do you make of just the general "state of the program", it's health and the direction it's going?

A: 2025 was a huge year for the program, especially considering the way the team finished down the stretch. As a new program on the NAIA stage, it was imperative that we showed significant progress from year one. Narratives and vibes, either positive or negative, are established quickly in athletics, and it was vital to avoid a narrative of losing. The psychology of losing is extremely difficult to overcome. 

Q: After going 22-30 last year, what were you most happy and most disappointed with about last season?

A: I was thrilled with our overall team defense, though there is still much room for improvement. Our offense, from a power perspective, regressed slightly although we were very active on the basepaths and ended the season finally seeing production up and down the order. That needs to continue into 2026. The pitching staff still needs to improve as a whole, though Barrett Lohman individually was a stalwart and became one of the best pitchers in the conference. 

Q: I would assume March 7 was a big day for the program last season (sweeping 19^th-ranked Missouri Baptist). What did that do for the confidence of your guys and did you notice any tangible aftershocks from that day throughout the rest of the season?

A: Baseball is a strange game, and momentum and confidence are of equal import at times with talent. March 7 was crucial for our young program because it was the first time our players saw themselves finish a game against a very good opponent. After that day, the team felt it could beat anybody if they put it all together. 

Q: Your pitching staff issued the most walks in the conference last season at 215. Do you change anything in your pitcher's approach to try and cut down that number?

A: We emphasize aggressiveness in the strike zone more than anything else with our pitchers. From the day I arrived on campus, strike percentage has been a primary measure for overall evaluation and emphasis. We continue to hammer away at the pitching staff. Most young pitchers struggle to throw strikes when they get to the college level. With a more experienced group in 2026, I expect those numbers to improve. 

Q: Your defensive numbers greatly improved from two years ago. You were middle of the pack in both total errors and fielding percentage last season. Did the defense improve enough to satiate you or is that still an area of concern?

A: Always an area of concern for me. When I evaluate the state of my program, I start with the defense. Bad defense leads to bad pitching. And you cannot win with bad pitching. I am excited about our potential in 2026. New transfer shortstop Sebastian Villegas has been impressive so far, and I am hopeful that he can be our leader from the most crucial position in the field. 

Q: Of your 22 wins last year, Barrett Lohman, Tristan Calmes, Jacob Grim and Logan Stribling combined to earn 15 of them. How much more do the other starters need to give you this year?

A: Everything they can, really. You take wins from wherever you can, whether that be your relief pitcher, your closer, or your Friday night starter. Those guys were productive for us in 2025, and I am hopeful they will be improved this season. 

Q: Why are Lohman and Calmes so successful on the hill?

A: Barrett is the ultimate strike thrower. He challenges you to swing the bat; he is a fierce competitor, and he commands three pitches. That is a winning formula. Tristan has tremendous stuff. He features a fastball that gets into the low 90's. His slider has come a long way and his change-up is a potential "plus" pitch. Tristan continues to improve his overall command. 

Q: Jacob Grim had an outstanding freshman season. He was your team's fifth leading hitter and second in doubles and homeruns. How much do you need Grim to continue that consistency and does he seem like the kind of hitter than continue to improve?

A: Jacob will be in the middle of the line-up, so production from him is vital to our overall success. He hit out of the 3-spot most of the time as a freshman, which is a tall order. He is a really good athlete who will also help us on the mound once again. Jacob brings a "football player" mentality to the baseball field which helps to galvanize out team. He is tough and intense and keeps our dugout energized.  

Q: Brandon Gibbs easily led the team in hits (10 more than his nearest chaser) and stolen bases (20 more than second place). He'll open this season sitting on a 20-game hit streak dating back to last season. How easy does he make it just put him in the leadoff spot every game and why was he able to be so successful?

A: Finding a reliable lead-off hitter is one of those boxes you try to check off every year as a manager. Along with short-stop, closer, catcher, etc. It is a premium spot on the roster, so it's really nice to have Brandon on our side. He is a very detailed worker and has tremendous bat control and plus speed. He gets on base and also hits for power. He's the whole package at the top. 

Q: You finished second in the conference in stolen bases as a team, albeit were caught stealing the most times. Do you plan on continuing to be that aggressive on the base paths and in a day and age where the stolen base has sort been de-valued, why is it such a big part of your arsenal?

A: I preach to our hitters that we have to be a "kitchen sink" offense, meaning that we can do everything. I want to hit for power as much as the next coach, but sometimes that is not a primary strength of your offense year to year. Offenses that run put pressure on the defense, and that is a necessity at the college level. We will continue to be aggressive. 

Q: Who are three or four newcomers that you are expecting to be major contributors this year?

A: Sebastian Villegas will start the season at short-stop. He has good range and athleticism and can swing the bat with a little power. Duncan Barker is a transfer RHP with a good arm. He pitches in the upper 80's with four pitches and will start the season in the rotation. Liam Macphie is another transfer that figures to play a lot. He is a true utility player who is capable of playing any position in the field and he is also a plus runner. 

Q: With such limited time outdoors prior to the start of the season on Friday, do you really have any kind of gauge of what kind of team you have?

A: This is why the fall is so important and why we put so much emphasis on evaluating throughout September and October. We have a lot of innings under our belt, and I feel confident in my gauge of our potential as a team. However, the spring is a different animal--some teams step-up when the lights turn on and others melt. I am hopeful our team is in the former category. 

Q: What are some of your goals for this season, either as a team or for individuals?

A: Cracking .500 is a significant goal for us and a difficult one to accomplish in baseball where there are so many factors and variables to contend with throughout the long 50-game+ schedule. Of course, we also aim to get back into the AMC tournament in 2026.