BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri Baseball was picked to finish second in the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll, the league announced on Thursday morning.
 
The Redhawks, who are coming off a 30-25 campaign in 2025, received 136 points and three first-place votes in the predicted order of finish voted on by the league's head coaches and communications staff(s). 
 
SEMO has two returning all-OVC selections who were recognized for their performances in 2025 in LHP Jackson Kranawetter and RHP Nathan Mertens. Both pitchers were first team All-OVC selections in 2025 making it three-straight seasons with a Redhawk pitcher on the first team. 
 
Mertens led all of DI Baseball in walks allowed per nine innings (0.92 BB/9) and ranked third in the country (first in OVC) in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.25 K/BB). Kranawetter finished the year as the conference's saves leader, racking up eight saves in 2025, and ranked 29^th in DI Baseball in saves. 
 
Two Redhawks landed on the 2026 OVC 'Players to Watch' list in infielder Brooks Kettering and catcher/first baseman Cal Sullivan. Kettering is coming off a sophomore season which saw him lead he Redhawks in walks (46) for the second-straight season. He hit .240 over his 200 at-bats where he registered 48 hits and finished with a .305 slugging-percentage. He recorded nine doubles, two triples, and 18 RBIs. 
 
C/1B Cal Sullivan is new to the Redhawks this season. Sullivan is a 6-1, 220 LB junior from Ely, Iowa who spent the last two seasons at Kirkwood Community College. In 103 games played for the Eagles, Sullivan hit a staggering .395 average with 21 home runs and 122 RBIs over 354 total at bats. He recorded 140 hits including 43 doubles, a triple, and slugged .701 for his two-year career. 
 
SIUE received the most points (137) and first-place votes (10) to be picked as the league's preseason favorites. Following the Redhawks in second place, Eastern Illinois (132) received four first-place votes in third place, Little Rock (122) with three first-place votes in fourth place to round out the top four. 
 
Tennessee Tech (98), Lindenwood (86), Southern Indiana (70), and UT Martin rounded out spots five through eight. Morehead State (37) and Western Illinois (28) rounded out spots nine and ten in the order. 
 
SEMO Baseball will begin its 55-game schedule on Friday, February 13, when they welcome in Illinois State to Cape Girardeau. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m., CT. at Capaha Park. For season tickets, click here.