Concordia’s 2026 baseball season has officially started. The Golden Eagles won their opening conference game 3-1 this past weekend against Chaminade. They are looking to keep making positive strides and prepare for a busy schedule ahead.

Starting junior pitcher Matthew Kaiser was an essential part of the puzzle last year and will be a leader heading into the 2026 season. He was recently voted to the NCBWA (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association) Preseason All-West Region team. 

Kaiser spoke about the team’s conference opener. He said, “I think our grit and determination have allowed us to be in the position we are now. I believe we can stand with any team just based on how hard the guys around me work each and every day.” 

He also added that “satisfaction is a hard feeling to have this early.” Just because the team had early success, they still need to work hard. Kaiser said the team is “hungrier than ever for their next series and know [they] have a long season ahead.”

While Kaiser leads on the mound, the Golden Eagles will also rely heavily on their offense. 

Senior second baseman Dylan Knowles, who transferred from Cal Poly, will be a bat to look for in this season's lineup. Concordia’s cleanup hitter talked about the team’s chemistry thus far. Knowles said, “I think our chemistry has been long-established since the fall. One thing I’ve found unique about our team is how close we’ve all been since the first month together.” For a team just beginning its season, the chemistry is impressive, with a bond that was built months ago in the fall.

Knowles also said, “I think that our identity was put to the test a little bit with a rough second week, but if we can survive that, we can survive anything.” The baseball team went 0-4 against Cal State Dominguez Hills two weeks ago. Coming back with a 3-1 record in their conference opener marked a major turning point, highlighting the team’s resilience and ability to respond to adversity.

Despite rainy weather disrupting preparations this week, the Golden Eagles remained focused. When asked about the upcoming midweek series against Hawaii Pacific University, Knowles remained confident. He said, “We feel ready. The rain has moved a few things around and added a few extra things to our pregame to-do lists, but we’re ready to compete.” With momentum on their side and a long season ahead, Concordia looks prepared to compete whether rain or shine.

The Golden Eagles will be heading up to Rocklin, California, to take on Jessup on Mon., Feb. 23. You can also look up the baseball team’s remaining schedule on Concordia’s website, cuigoldeneagles.com. Make sure to follow @cuigoldeneagles and @cuibaseball on Instagram for updates and the latest announcements for their 2026 season.

Tags: baseball

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