PITTSBURGH (PTTP) – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team opens their season Friday, February 13th in Port Charlotte, Florida with a series against the Western Michigan Broncos. The Panthers finished last season 28-27, 14th in the ACC. This season, the Panthers are looking to bring some attention to Charles L. Cost Field, led by their senior shortstop Caden Dulin.
The 2026 Panthers’ baseball team has more newcomers to the roster, with 21 than returning members, with 19, but that has not stopped the team from coming together as one unit, something Dulin believes will “be the difference this year.” Dulin was excited to inherit his role as a senior leader on this roster comprised of newcomers, with intention to pay forward the knowledge and skills he received when he joined the team just a season ago. “We have to break it down and make it a lot more simple [rather] than throw a bunch of new things at 19 new guys,” Dulin said while describing both his and his coaches’ plans for this upcoming year.
Dulin himself finished his 2025 campaign with the Panthers with a team-leading .337 batting average and 19 multi-hit games. He was also named to the D1 Baseball list of top 50 shortstops in the country, recognition that Dulin appreciates, but is treating like any other piece of preseason baseball content, stating “Those preseason writeups, they don’t really mean anything until someone gets out there and proves it.” Dulin applied the same message when asked about preparing for the gauntlet of ACC opponents on the horizon, including eight rosters already ranked within the Division I top 25.
Dulin expressed excitement when talking about this year’s roster, describing the team identity as “relentless”, and a group that will draw a lot of attention, especially through their pitching staff. Dulin also stated that for this weekend specifically, a clean sweep of the Broncos is the only expectation.
Following the series against Western Michigan, the Panthers continue their southern stretch with three matchups in Corpus Christi, Texas against Long Beach State, CSU Bakersfield, and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi. The Panthers will welcome the Bucknell Bison to Charles L. Cost Field for their home opener on Wednesday, February 25th.