BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Head coach Jim Chester and the Gardner-Webb University baseball team have announced its 2026 schedule. This year's slate includes 57 games, including 24 games within the Big South Conference.
"The 2026 schedule is as challenging as any in my tenure at Gardner-Webb," said Chester. Traditional non-conference opponents like Western Carolina, App State, Wofford, and UNC Charlotte are back this year. The Big South slate will be competitive from top to bottom. Our alumni and fans will be excited about trips to Oklahoma State and Washington State this spring. Opening Day can't get here soon enough! Sko Dawgs!"
The Runnin' Bulldogs open the 2026 season playing 11 of its first 12 games within the friendly confines of Bill Masters Field. Valparaiso visits Boiling Springs for a 4-game set beginning February 13-15 before a quick trip to face South Carolina of the SEC.
Gardner-Webb returns home to host FDU for a pair of games followed by two games against Dartmouth and a three-game series with Appalachian State. The Dawgs head north to Durham, N.C. to take on Duke for a single game before making a trip out west to play three games against Oklahoma State.
After a single game versus Davidson on March 10, GWU opens league play with three games versus Longwood March 13-15. Gardner-Webb visits Western Carolina for a single game followed by a weekend series at Charleson Southern.
The next four games will see the Runnin' Bulldogs at home, starting with North Carolina A&T on March 24 followed by three conference games against High Point. A rematch with the Aggies will happen at A&T on March 31.
Gardner-Webb then plays six of its next seven games on the road, beginning with three games at UNC Asheville. A quick trip to Elon on April 7 leads to a cross-country trip to take on the Washington State Cougars April 9-11.
After a contest with Queens University of Charlotte, Gardner-Webb returns to league play, traveling to Virginia while taking on Radford before heading into a 4-game home stand starting with Western Carolina on April 21. The Eagles of Winthrop will then visit the Springs April 24-26.
Stepping out of conference, the Runnin' Bulldogs travel to nearby Spartanburg, S.C. to face the Terriers of Wofford College before USC Upstate plays host to GWU May 1-3. A bookend home game versus Wofford will lead into a three-game weekend series with Bradley and Campbell. The Dawgs take on the Braves May 8 and 9 while Campbell and GWU square of on May 9.
One last non-conference game against Charlotte leads into the final home series of the year, a 3-game set with conference foe Presbyterian May 14-16.
