FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. The Methodist University baseball program has announced its 2026 schedule, featuring a balanced 40-game slate that blends early non-conference competition with a full USA South Athletic Conference schedule. The Monarchs return to Armstrong-Shelley Field with plenty of opportunities for fans to cheer on the defending champions.
Methodist opens the season at home on Friday, February 13, hosting a doubleheader against Virginia Wesleyan University with first pitch times set for 1 PM and 4 PM. The opening weekend continues on Saturday, February 14, with a single game at 1 PM as part of Tom Austin Day festivities.
The early non-conference portion continues with the annual Armstrong Invitational from February 20–22, as the Monarchs welcome Hanover College and the University of Mount Union to Fayetteville. Methodist will also travel to the Cal Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for a midweek matchup against Keystone College on Wednesday, February 25, with first pitch scheduled for 4 PM.
To close out February, the Monarchs host Keene State for a three-game series, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, February 27, at 1 PM, followed by a single game on Saturday, February 28, at 1 PM. Prior to Saturday's contest, Methodist will hold a ring ceremony honoring the 2025 championship team.
March begins with a three-game road series at Piedmont University in Demorest, Georgia, from March 6–8, with game times set for 6 PM on Friday, 2 PM on Saturday, and 1 PM on Sunday. The Monarchs then return home for four straight games, hosting Belhaven University in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday, March 11, at 4 PM before opening USA South play with a weekend series against Southern Virginia University on March 13–14. Friday's opener is scheduled for 4 PM, followed by a Noon doubleheader on Saturday.
Conference play continues with a three-game road series at Brevard College on March 21–22, featuring two games on Saturday and a single contest on Sunday, all with Noon start times. Methodist then travels to Christopher Newport University for a midweek non-conference contest on Tuesday, March 24, with first pitch set for 3 PM, before returning home to host Mary Baldwin University in a USA South series on March 28–29. That series includes a Saturday doubleheader and a single game on Sunday, both days beginning at 1 PM.
The Monarchs wrap up March with a 3 PM road game at Hampden–Sydney College on Tuesday, March 31, then open April with a pivotal USA South road series against preseason favorite Greensboro College. The matchup features a single game on Friday, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday.
On Tuesday, April 7, Methodist hosts Guilford College in a 4 PM non-conference contest before continuing conference play with a home USA South series against William Peace University on April 10–11. The Friday game is set for 6 PM, with a 2 PM doubleheader on Saturday. The Monarchs make their final regular-season trip to Virginia on Tuesday, April 14, visiting the University of Lynchburg for a 3:30 PM non-conference game.
The final two USA South series of the season come against Pfeiffer University and North Carolina Wesleyan University. Methodist travels to Misenheimer to face the Falcons from April 17–19 before closing conference play at home against the Battling Bishops from April 24–26. The regular season concludes with a non-conference matchup against Randolph–Macon College on Tuesday, April 28, at 6 PM at Armstrong–Shelley Field.
Postseason play begins with the USA South Baseball Tournament, which opens with on-campus elimination tournaments from April 30–May 2, followed by the best-of-three championship series on May 8–9.
