CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Citadel Bulldogs baseball program prepares for the 2026 season with a strong roster and a tough schedule. Last season, the Bulldogs finished with a 31-26 record, highlighting their potential within the competitive Southern Conference.
 
Under the guidance of head coach Russell Triplett, now in his second season, the Bulldogs aim to build on last year's achievements with a blue-collar, next-man-up mentality. Coach Triplett strongly believes in the team's capabilities and aims to instill confidence and resilience in every player. The team's philosophy centers around commitment, accountability, and a relentless work ethic, values that align with The Citadel's storied tradition.
 
Impact Returners for the Bulldogs
Returning players are poised to make significant contributions this season. Senior infielder Aryan Patel, who was named to the 2025 SoCon All-Tournament Team, leads the group. Senior catcher Phillips Daniels provides experience and leadership on the field. Senior left-handed pitcher Will Holmes, a top SoCon draft prospect for 2026 named by D1 Baseball, adds depth to the pitching staff, while senior outfielders TJ Anderson and Matthew Lively complete the returning lineup.
 
In an interview with D1 Baseball/Pencil Talk baseball influencer Jack Delongchamps, Triplett pointed out that experience and leadership form the backbone of this year's lineup:
 

We have a catcher, Phillips Daniels, who I believe is as good as anyone in our conference. He made significant progress last year, being a solid offensive player, not your typical leadoff guy, probably different from most leadoff hitters in the country. But he gets on base. He has quality at-bats, and he produces a good at-bat every time he's up. He's behind the plate with some experience: our shortstop Lane Tobin, a senior as well, and very experienced; our center fielder Matthew Lively, who also has plenty of experience; and our corner, Aryan Patel, who can play anywhere we need him to. He's a Bulldog, a true baseball player, and he has the ability to make those around him better. When you're thinking about the field every day, those are the types of guys we hope are in the lineup. We have a guy returning who started with us at the beginning of last year, Will Holmes. When he's dialed in, he's as good as anybody in the country, and his stuff is real. He works like a professional; he goes about things. He's had an advantage with a lot of pro guys coming back here that work out at our facility.

 
New Faces for The Citadel
The Citadel introduces many new faces for the 2026 season, as the Bulldogs feature 28 players on the squad this year, with several expected to make an immediate impact.
 

# 0 Miles Barbrey	INF	5-10 – 180 lbs	Fountain Inn, S.C. / Fountain Inn HS
# 2 Jayden Williams	OF	6-0 – 197 Ibs	Columbia, S.C. / Spring Valley HS
# 3 Sam Dansky	INF	6-0 – 200 Ibs	Charlotte, N.C. / Gaston College
# 8 Zach Snead	INF	5-10 – 180 Ibs	Columbia, S.C. / A.C. Flora
# 9 Hank Aeppli	C/OF	6-0 – 200 Ibs	Mt. Pleasant, S.C. / Lucy Beckham
# 10 Carson Hodges	UTIL.	5-10 – 190 Ibs	Kennesaw, Ga. / Mount Paran Christian School
#11 Andrew Buffkin	RHP	5-11 – 185 Ibs	Myrtle Beach, S.C. / USC Sumter
# 12 Trip Brown	RHP	6-2 – 200 Ibs	James Island, S.C. / USC Upstate
#13 Jackson Bottar	LHP	5-9 – 180 Ibs	Blythewood, S.C. / Blythewood HS
# 14 Stephen Platte	LHP	6-0 – 180 Ibs	Aiken, S.C. / South Aiken HS
# 15 Jackson Proctor	UTIL.	5-10 – 180 Ibs	Moncks Corner, S.C. / Florence-Darlington Tech
# 16 Kaine Baber	INF	6-2 – 180 Ibs	Maryville, Tenn. / Maryville HS
# 17 Kaden Kiser	LHP	6-5 – 220 Ibs	Columbus, Ohio / Valparaiso
#19 Bryce Coulter	RHP	6-3 – 220 Ibs	Sumter, S.C. / Florence-Darlington Tech
# 20 Christian Stratis	OF	5-11 – 185 Ibs	Hilton Head, S.C./N. Okla College – Tonkawa
# 22 Michael Gibson	RHP/UTIL.	6-3 – 200 Ibs	Rock Hill, S.C./ Liberty
# 24 Andrew Bowers	RHP	6-3 – 220 Ibs	Mt. Pleasant, S.C. / Coastal Carolina
# 27 Jackson Cole	LHP	6-3 – 195 Ibs	Boiling Springs, S.C. / Clemson
# 28 Cohen Parker	RHP/C	6-0 – 185 Ibs	Summerville, S.C. / Ashley Ridge HS
# 34 Josh Davis	RHP	6-1 – 210 Ibs	Goose Creek, S.C. / Clemson
# 38 Mason Yokum	LHP	6-3 – 190 Ibs	Leesburg, S.C. / North Carolina
# 39 Steven Trone	RHP	6-1 – 195 Ibs	Charleston, S.C. / Old Dominion
# 40 Riley Ballard	RHP	6-5 – 205 Ibs	Hanahan, S.C. / Hanahan HS
# 41 Harrison Keels	LHP	6-2 – 200 Ibs	Greer, S.C. / Brynes HS
# 42 Liam Foley	RHP	6-0 – 190 Ibs	Charlotte, N.C. / Cleveland Community College
# 44 Jacob Deacon	RHP	6-3 – 205 Ibs	Goose Creek, S.C. / Stratford HS
# 50 Jackson Cooper	RHP	6-3 – 185 Ibs	Lexington, S.C. / Lexington HS
# 52 Rylee Gibson	RHP	6-2 – 195 Ibs	Winter Garden, Fla. / Foundation Academy

 
 
Schedule Preview
The 2026 season presents a tough schedule, with The Citadel facing five top-25 ranked opponents: #6 Coastal Carolina, #15 Georgia, #16 Florida State, #18 Kentucky, and #19 Clemson. These games give the Bulldogs chances to test themselves against some of the best teams in the country.
 
The Bulldogs will begin conference play at Mercer from March 20-22, and their first home conference series will be against Western Carolina from March 27-29. The Southern Conference Baseball Championships start on May 20 in Greenville, S.C., at Fluor Field.
 
"If We Don't Prepare Now, We Won't Be Ready": Building a Championship Culture Through Competition
 

We want to challenge our players to compete in tough environments. We plan to visit Florida State for a weekend series early in the year, then head to Kentucky for another weekend series, play at Georgia, at Coastal, at South Carolina, and host all three major teams in the state. This schedule gives us a chance to compete at a high level. The best part is how excited our players are about it. Maybe some of that excitement comes from getting out of town and seeing new places, but they're especially eager about the teams we're playing and the level of competition. I would keep emphasizing this point right now. If we don't prepare now, we won't be ready. It's a quote we often use: Championships aren't won in the moment, but in the days, weeks, months, and years leading up to it. It reflects the championship culture and the character we aim to build.

 
South Carolina's Finest
The Citadel will play against eight NCAA Division I programs this season, including #6 Coastal Carolina, #19 Clemson, South Carolina, Wofford, College of Charleston, Charleston Southern, Winthrop, and Presbyterian College.
 
SoCon Preseason Honors
Four Bulldogs earn Preseason All-SoCon Second Team honors with Will Holmes, Andrew Stanley, Phillips Daniels, and TJ Anderson. The Citadel was voted to finish fourth in the SoCon Coaches' Preseason Poll, the highest since 2014.

New Locker Room, Who This?
Off the field, the Bulldogs are now based at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park, which features newly built facilities. The upgraded amenities include renovated locker rooms, coaches' offices, and a state-of-the-art training area, providing the team with a top-quality environment to prepare for the season.
 
As The Citadel Bulldogs begin their 2026 season, they plan to leverage their talented roster and improved facilities to tackle a challenging schedule and make their mark in the Southern Conference. The Bulldogs will kick off the season against Liberty with a three-game series set for Feb. 13-15.