GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Cal Lutheran University baseball team earned a No. 30 ranking in the 2026 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) NCAA Division III Preseason Poll, released Tuesday.

The Kingsmen collected 69 points to round out the top 30 after posting a 27-14 overall record and a 16-8 mark in conference play last season. Cal Lutheran is one of four Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) teams to appear in the poll, with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps leading the league at No. 12, followed by No. 13 La Verne and No. 19 Pomona-Pitzer. Chapman also received votes.

Returning a strong core while welcoming several new contributors, CLU looks to build on last season's success as it pursues a seventh consecutive SCIAC Tournament appearance. The Kingsmen narrowly missed advancing beyond the opening game of last year's postseason and aim to make a return to the national stage in 2026.

Cal Lutheran has wrapped up exhibition play and will open its nonconference preseason slate on Friday, February 6, hosting McMurry at George "Sparky" Anderson Field.

ABCA 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll