Behrend Selected First In AMCC Baseball Preseason Poll

ERIE, Pa. – The reigning Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Champion Penn State Behrend baseball team has earned the top spot in the 2026 Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Entering his 34^th season, head coach Paul Benim looks to build off a successful 2025 season with the Lions capturing their eighth conference title and second straight NCAA appearance, defeating Manchester by a score of 14-3.

Behrend welcomes back eight of the 11 All-Conference honorees from last season, including Players to Watch and First Team honorees catcher Tom Nicely and pitcher Andrew Bredel.  

Nicley ranked sixth in the conference and second on the team with a .379 batting average a year ago. He was second on the team in on-base percentage (.462) and RBIs (33), while being third in slugging percentage (.495). Nicley tallied 23 runs, nine doubles, and one home run. He also threw out 10 runners.

Bredel started 11 of 12 games on the mound and tied for first in the AMCC with eight wins. He led all Behrend starters with a 4.39 ERA. Bredel ranked second on the team in strikeouts (54) and innings pitched (53.1) while allowing one earned run over six innings with a career-high nine strikeouts vs. Pitt-Bradford.

Behrend begins the season on Sunday, Feb. 28 with a doubleheader in Chillicothe, OH against Albion and Heidelberg. Game times are 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Along with the Lions, Pitt-Greensburg and Alfred State round out the top three in the preseason poll.

2026 Preseason Ranking:

1. Penn State Behrend
2. Pitt-Greensburg
3. Alfred State
4. Hilbert
5. Mount Aloysius
6. Penn State Altoona
7. Pitt-Bradford
8. La Roche