KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) announced its 2026 Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Friday morning, and Rogers State was picked to finish seventh.
  
The Hillcats, who finished fifth in the 2025 regular-season rankings, collected 82 points in the poll, ahead of Emporia State (72 points) and Northwest Missouri State (67 points). The defending MIAA Regular Season Champions and NCAA runner-up, No. 2 Central Missouri, were predicted to win the conference with 144 points and 12 first-place votes. Pittsburg State (125 points) and Central Oklahoma (115 points) rounded out the top three.

Rogers State aims to improve on its 29-20 (19-17 overall) record from last season. The Cats have advanced to the MIAA Tournament every season since joining the league, excluding the inaugural 2020 season that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RSU will open the season on Feb. 3 at 2:00 p.m. against East Central in Ada. The home open series will take place on Feb. 6-8 against the UMary (N.D.) at the RCB Bank Sports Complex.
 
2026 MIAA BASEBALL PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Central Missouri [12] – 144 points
2. Pittsburg State – 125 points
3. Central Oklahoma – 115 points
4. Missouri Southern [1] – 97 points 
5. Washburn – 93 points
6. Fort Hays State – 92 points
7. Rogers State – 82 points
8. Emporia State – 72 points
9. Northwest Missouri – 67 points
10. Missouri Western – 50 points
11. Northeastern State – 32 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 25 points
13. Newman – 20 points