BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Baseball team is ready to get its 2026 season underway and opens the fresh season with a pair of doubleheaders at Ronken Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., to face No. 25 Augustana University, Feb. 8-9.
 
The Beavers (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) and Vikings (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) will play two doubleheaders beginning at Noon each day with the first three games in the series being part of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action.
 
Each game will be streamed exclusively online at NSICNetwork.com and Live Stats will be made available, here.
 
Bemidji State is 6-44 all-time against the Vikings and 3-27 when playing on the road. The Feb. 8-9 meetings will be the earliest the two teams have faced one another and their first series played in February.
 
Bemidji State was voted to finish 15^th in the 2026 NSIC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll while the Vikings were picked to finish second and just one point back of favorite Minnesota State University, Mankato.
 
Head coach Matt Ellinghuysen returns 26 letterwinners from the 2025 season and enter his fifth season as manager of the Beaver Baseball program. He returns all starters from his infield and outfield positions while also returning three starting pitchers.
 
Junior Matt Filippi was selected as the Beavers' Preseason Player to Watch while Jacob Smith was tabbed as their Preseason Pitcher to Watch. Filippi returns for his junior season where he led the Beavers in batting average, runs, hits, total bases, stolen bases and at bats. He also made six appearances and five starts on the mound for the Beavers posting a 2-3 record, 9.82 earned run average and collected 10 strikeouts through 22 innings.
 
Junior Jacob Smith looks to improve on a sophomore season where he went 0-5 on the mound pitching in 22.1 innings off five starts and seven appearances. He totaled a 13.70 ERA while collecting 15 strikeouts compared to just six walks allowed.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State Baseball program, follow the Beavers on X, like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram.
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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