WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University baseball team and head coach Eric Burkle have announced their 2026 schedule, featuring a challenging nonconference slate and a competitive Mountain East Conference lineup as the Hilltoppers look to build on last season's progress.

Burkle, entering his 14th season leading the Hilltoppers, returns a talented core from last year's squad that finished 23-26 overall and 13-14 in MEC play, earning several key series wins and remaining in postseason contention deep into April.

West Liberty opens the 2026 campaign with a three-game road series at Francis Marion University (Feb. 6–8) in Florence, South Carolina. The Hilltoppers then travel to Bluefield State (Feb. 21–22) and Malone University (Feb. 27–28) before closing February with eight road games in three states.

The Hilltoppers' home debut comes on March 14–15, hosting West Virginia State and Charleston to kick off MEC play at Kovalick Field. March also features home doubleheaders against Glenville State (Mar. 28) and Concord (Mar. 29), along with midweek matchups versus Ohio Dominican (Mar. 25) and a road test at Shepherd (Mar. 31).

April brings a mix of conference and regional challenges. The Hilltoppers face Point Park (Apr. 11–12) and Fairmont State (Apr. 25–26) in home MEC series, while also squaring off against Indiana (Pa.), Shepherd, Seton Hill, and Salem in nonconference play.

West Liberty wraps up the regular season with a home-and-home series against rival Wheeling (May 1 & 3) before the Mountain East Conference Tournament begins May 6–10 in Charleston, W.Va.

2026 West Liberty Baseball Schedule

February

• Fri. 6: at Francis Marion (9 inn.) – Florence, S.C. – 4 p.m.
   

• Sat. 7: at Francis Marion (9 inn.) – Florence, S.C. – 1 p.m.
   

• Sun. 8: at Francis Marion (9 inn.) – Florence, S.C. – 1 p.m.
   

• Sat. 21: at Bluefield State (2) – Bluefield, W.Va. – 1 p.m.
   

• Sun. 22: at Bluefield State (2) – Bluefield, W.Va. – 1 p.m.
   

• Fri. 27: vs. Malone (2) – Mason, Ohio – 1 p.m.
   

• Sat. 28: vs. Malone (2) – Mason, Ohio – 1 p.m.
   

March

• Tue. 10: at Ohio Dominican (9 inn.) – Columbus, Ohio – 1 p.m.
   

• Sat. 14: vs. West Virginia State (2)* – West Liberty, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Sun. 15: vs. Charleston (2)* – West Liberty, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Sat. 21: at Davis & Elkins (2)* – Elkins, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Sun. 22: at West Virginia Wesleyan (2)* – Buckhannon, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Wed. 25: vs. Ohio Dominican (9 inn.) – West Liberty, W.Va. – 3 p.m.
   

• Sat. 28: vs. Glenville State (2)* – West Liberty, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Sun. 29: vs. Concord (2)* – West Liberty, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Tue. 31: at Shepherd (9 inn.) – Shepherdstown, W.Va. – 3 p.m.
   

April

• Fri. 3: at Frostburg State (2)* – Frostburg, Md. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Sat. 4: at Frostburg State (2)* – Frostburg, Md. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Tue. 7: at Indiana (Pa.) (9 inn.) – Indiana, Pa. – 3 p.m.
   

• Sat. 11: vs. Point Park (2)* – West Liberty, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Sun. 12: vs. Point Park (2)* – West Liberty, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Wed. 15: vs. Shepherd (9 inn.) – West Liberty, W.Va. – 3 p.m.
   

• Sat. 18: at Salem (2) – Clarksburg, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Sun. 19: at Salem (2) – Clarksburg, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Tue. 21: vs. Seton Hill (9 inn.) – West Liberty, W.Va. – 3 p.m.
   

• Sat. 25: vs. Fairmont State (2)* – West Liberty, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Sun. 26: vs. Fairmont State (2)* – West Liberty, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• Tue. 28: vs. Indiana (Pa.) (9 inn.) – West Liberty, W.Va. – 3 p.m.
   

May

• Fri. 1: at Wheeling (2)* – Wheeling, W.Va. – 4 p.m., 7 p.m.
   

• Sun. 3: vs. Wheeling (2)* – West Liberty, W.Va. – 1 p.m., 4 p.m.
   

• May 6–10: Mountain East Conference Tournament – Charleston, W.Va. – TBD