WILMINGTON, North Carolina – The University of Maryland baseball team begins its 2026 season this Friday with a three-game series against UNC Wilmington at Brooks Field. The series marks the start of a new campaign for the Terrapins, following a 27-29 record in 2025, and represents a second consecutive year opening play in the state of North Carolina.
The last time the two programs met was in 2017, with Maryland securing a 10-6 victory. However, the overall series record favors UNC Wilmington, 10-5. This weekend’s games will be streamed on FloSports and available via the Maryland Baseball Network for audio coverage.
UNC Wilmington enters the series with a strong recent history, having finished second in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in 2025 with a 34-24 record. The Seahawks ultimately fell to Northeastern in the conference championship game, but demonstrated a consistent ability to compete at a high level, including victories against nationally ranked programs like Georgia, NC State, and Southern Miss.
Head coach Randy Hood is entering his seventh season at the helm of the Seahawks, boasting an overall record of 182-119. Under his leadership, UNC Wilmington has reached the CAA championship game in four of the last five years, establishing a winning tradition within the conference.
Despite this established success, the Seahawks face a period of roster transition. Key players from the 2025 squad – pitchers Trace Baker, Aubrey Smith, and Zane Taylor, catcher Bryan Arendt, and first baseman Tanner Thach – have all been drafted into Major League Baseball. Right-handed pitchers Cam Bagwell and Khris Morris have transferred to Wake Forest and Richmond, respectively. The departure of outfielder Brock Wills, who hit .300 with 12 home runs and 87 RBIs over three seasons, is also a significant loss, as he has moved to West Virginia for his senior year.
Looking ahead, UNC Wilmington will rely on returning players like junior designated hitter Cole Nelson, who was second on the team in home runs with 31 RBIs in 2025, and graduate infielder Kevin Jones, who maintained a .294 batting average while appearing in all 58 games last season. Junior infielder Trevor Lucas, who led the team with 42 walks and contributed nine home runs and 49 RBIs, will also be a key contributor. On the pitching side, junior right-hander Connor Marshburn, who transitioned into a starting role in 2025 and recorded 68 strikeouts, and junior right-hander Cooper Allen, who registered 43 strikeouts in 35 ⅔ innings of relief, are expected to play pivotal roles.
Hood highlighted the balance within his 2026 roster, noting that four players – Marshburn and Nelson, along with Jones and Lucas – earned recognition on the All-CAA Preseason list, with Jones and Lucas receiving honorable mentions. Marshburn’s performance against ranked Georgia in 2025, where he threw six scoreless innings, underscores his potential. Nelson is expected to provide significant offensive power in his third season, having hit 11 home runs last spring.
For Maryland, the series presents an opportunity to assess the impact of its own roster changes, including a wave of transfers. David Mendez, Ryan Costello, Rylen Stockton, Antonio Morales, and Jackson Sirois are all expected to feature in the Terrapins’ lineup, while right-hander Lance Williams is slated to start the series opener on Friday. The integration of these newcomers will be a key focus for the team.
The Terrapins will also be looking to see how freshman infielder Ty Kaunas performs after being named Big Ten Preseason Freshman of the Year. Kaunas is the only true freshman listed as a probable starter, and his ability to adapt to the collegiate level will be closely watched.
Maryland will be aiming to improve upon its start to the 2025 season, where they lost their opening series to Western Carolina 2-1. A strong showing against UNC Wilmington would provide a positive momentum boost as they navigate the early stages of the 2026 campaign. The first game is scheduled for at 4:00 PM, followed by games on at 4:00 PM and at 1:00 PM.
