SAN ANTONIO (Dec. 5, 2024) – Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) Saints baseball has announced a 50-game schedule for the 2025 regular season, including 29 at home. The upcoming campaign will mark the Saints' 11th as a program and member of the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). Head Coach Matt Piker will enter his third season at the helm. Assistant Coach Ryan Chapa also returns for his third season, and the Saints add Assistant Coach Manny Luna to the staff. Father Cristopher Robinson returns for his 11th year as team chaplain.

Starting at home

For the 10th consecutive year, the Saints will open their schedule at home against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO). In 23 games against the Drovers, the Saints are 9-14. The Drovers received 23 votes in the 2024-2025 NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll released on Nov. 6.

Wayland Baptist University will be in San Antonio for doubleheaders on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. The Saints are 5-4 against the Pioneers. Last season, the Saints won two of four games.

For the first time, the Saints will play a doubleheader against Indiana University – South Bend on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8.

Nothing easy in the RRAC

The 2024 results of the conference season are as follows:

1. LSU-Shreveport (LSUS): 28-2/44-11
2. University of Houston-Victoria (UHV): 19-11/34-17
3. Texas A&M University – Texarkana (TAMUT): 19-11/25-26
4. LSU-Alexandria (LSUA): 18-12/22-23
5. Louisiana Christian University (LCU): 17-13/34-21
6. OLLU: 16-14/28-24
7. University of the Southwest (USW): 15-15/25-27
8. Jarvis Christian University (JCU): 13-17/19-23
9. Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA): 11-19/18-23
10. Huston-Tillotson University (HTU): 6-21/16-28
11. Texas College (TC): 0-27/0-30

The Saints welcome LSUS Feb. 14-15. The Pilots, 2024's RRAC regular-season champions, are ranked No. 4 in the NAIA preseason poll and first in the RRAC preseason poll. LSUS qualified for the NAIA National Championship, where they won two of four games, losing the championship game in the opening round. The Saints are 10-25 against the Pilots. Last season, the Saints lost all four matchups.

The Saints will travel to Hobbs, N.M., for a three-game series against the USW from Feb. 21 to 22. OLLU, historically, has had a strong record of 24-10 against the Mustangs. Last season, the Saints lost two and won two, including a 20-15 victory in the conference tournament.

The men will return to their conference schedule Feb. 28-March 1 in Tyler, Texas, against TC. The Saints are 29-2 against the Steers. Last season, the Saints won all three games: 14-4, 9-0 and 12-0.

Next, the Saints host LSUA March 7-8. The Generals are 19-13 against OLLU. In 2024, the Saints won 13-0 and lost two.

OLLU will travel to Austin, Texas, for a three-game series against HTU from March 21-22. The Saints are 22-3 against the Rams. Last season, the Saints won all three matchups.

The team returns home March 28-29 for a series against LCU. The Wildcats, who finished fifth in the conference last season, won the postseason title. At the NAIA Nationals Opening Round, the Wildcats won one of two to end their season. LCU is ranked third in the RRAC Preseason Poll. The Saints are 4-5 against LCU. Last season, the Saints won one of three games.

The Saints host UHV on April 4-5. The two teams will play each other in a nonconference game on April 15 in Victoria, Texas. The Jaguars received 32 votes in the NAIA Preseason Poll and are ranked second in the RRAC Preseason Poll.

TAMUT will host OLLU April 11-12. The Saints are 13-16 against the Eagles. Last season, the Saints lost all three games.

The Saints return home for their last home games of the regular season on April 17-18. They will host JCU. The Saints are 18-15 against the Bulldogs. The Saints won two of three games last season.

The Saints will conclude the regular season in New Orleans against XULA on April 25-26. They are 9-1 against the Gold Rush and won all three games last year.

Postseason plans

The RRAC Championship Tournament, sponsored by LSUS, will take place May 1-5 in Sterlington, La.

The Saints have a strong track record, having qualified for the postseason in eight of 10 seasons since 2015. Despite the challenges of the 2017 miss and the 2020 season cancelation due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the team's 2021 achievements, including capturing the regular-season crown and finishing as semifinalists in the postseason tournament, have made the OLLU community proud and supportive of their continued success.

Follow along

The Saints will broadcast home matches on the OLLU Saints Network and feature live stats. Links will be available on the baseball schedule page. 

The general admission charge for all home games is $10; free admission is available for OLLU faculty, staff and students. To inquire about joining the OLLU Halo Club and receiving free admission, go here.