SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist Baseball is officially underway beginning this weekend and we have an inside look on the makeup of the 2025 Bison Baseball program.
In the previous season, Oklahoma Baptist Baseball finished the regular season on a four-game win streak at home. The GAC Tournament saw the Bison fall short in the three-game series of the opening round against Arkansas Monticello.
The green and gold finished the season 32-20 overall and 18-15 in conference action. The Bison maintained an impressive 23-6 home record while finishing with a 7-13 mark for road games.
''We talk every year about each group having the ability to leave their mark with the program and they understand the expectations that come with being a part of the program'', said Head Coach
Chris Cox.
The 2025 season begins now as OBU heads to Edmond for a weekend of action at the UCO Festival. The Bison will face Pittsburg State for the season opener on Friday at 1 p.m. The following day, the green and gold will take on the University of Missouri-St. Louis at 9:30 a.m. Sunday will see a pause in action, but the Bison will be back in motion Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. to close out their time in Edmond against Northeastern State.
After opening weekend, the Bison will host Metropolitan State University of Denver for a four-game series to serve as the home season opener. Game one will take place Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.
The 2025 team is comprised of 29 members including two true freshmen, one redshirt freshman, two sophomores, one redshirt sophomore, 10 juniors and 13 seniors.
Although the program has experience on their side with 23 upperclassmen on the roster, Bison Baseball is made up of 14 returners and 15 new faces.
"Really pleased with how this group has prepared, from the fall to now. Obviously, a lot of new faces on both the position and pitching side of things, but feel they've meshed well together and done a good job of challenging and competing against one another'', said Cox.
With an all-time career record of 133-86, Cox looks to continue his run of success at OBU.
In the 2025 GAC Preseason Poll, Oklahoma Baptist was picked to finish seventh in the league. Although the Bison suffered the loss of several key players including
All-Americans Alex Schroder and
Troy Shields, the green and gold have picked up some key players as well as a handful of returners that are promising to the future of Bison Baseball.
Among the list of returners are key contributors from last season
Jacob Campbell,
Jayden Shafer, and
Spencer Dickinson, as well as several others. Although the green and gold may have been foreign to a few players, the GAC was a familiar home to some new members of OBU Baseball, including the GAC 2023 Player of the Year,
DJ Van Atten. Previously, Van Atten played for the Crimson Storm but after a season at the Division I level with Abilene Christian, the Latta, Okla., native, will make his return to the GAC this time as a Bison.
With several stories similar to Van Atten's the green and gold are looking onward in the hopes of continuing their success with another winning season.
"Positionally, I feel we're balanced and have the ability to produce runs in multiple ways. It's a group that's shown the ability throughout the fall to be a good defensive club as well'', noted Cox.
For more on the 2025 OBU Baseball Schedule, click
here.
