FRISCO, Texas – McNeese pitcher Eric Nachtsheim, the Southland Conference Relief Pitcher of the Year, has been named the 2026 SLC Baseball Student-Athlete of the year, the league announced on Thursday along with the All-Academic team.

A native of Reno, Nevada, Nachtsheim graduated this spring with a 3.97 GPA in biology pre-medicine. He becomes the first Cowboy to garner the honor since 2022 when Payton Harden received the honor.

In 2026, Nachtsheim posted an 8-4 record with three saves to go along with a 3.39 ERA. He led the league and ranked eighth in the NCAA with 129 strikeouts, setting a school single-season record in the process. He appeared in 20 games making nine starts, threw 93.0 innings, compiled a 1.10 WHIP, and held opponents to a .227 batting average
He was one of five Cowboys named to the All-Academic team. Pitcher, Jake Blackwell joined Nachtsheim on the team after posting a 3.97 GPA in agricultural sciences with a concentration in agribusiness. Connor Walker, who was named to the league's all-defensive team, earned the accolade posting a 3.85 GPA in Kiniesology-PrePhysical Therapy.

Lake Charles native, Parker Morgan earned the honor graduating with a 3.85 GPA in Kinesiology Pre-Physical Therapy and has already begun PT school at LSU-Shreveport. 

Brady Corcoran was the fifth Cowboy named to the team after recording a 3.73 GPA while majoring in Biology Pre-Dentistry.

2026 Southland Baseball Student-Athlete of the Year: Eric Nachtsheim, McNeese, Sr., 3.97 GPA
 
2026 Southland Baseball All-Academic Team
Luke Bard, HCU, Sr., 3.68 GPA 
Louis Castano, HCU, Sr., 3.85 GPA
Levi Castilleja, HCU, Sr., 3.85 GPA
Nico DeFazio, HCU, Sr., 3.32 GPA
Katcher Halligan, HCU, Gr., 3.57 GPA 
 
Drake Anderson, UIW, Gr., 3.45 GPA
Christian Enriquez, UIW, Gr., 3.92 GPA
Cole Tabor, UIW, Sr., 3.47 GPA
Colin Cymbalista, UIW, Sr., 3.53 GPA 
Preston Newberry, UIW, R-Jr., 3.40 GPA 
 
Travis Lutz, Lamar, Sr., 4.00 GPA
Tab Tracy, Lamar, Sr., 3.84 GPA
Beau Durbin, Lamar, Sr., 3.80 GPA
Ethan Oceguera, Lamar, Sr., 3.79 GPA 
Jarret Williams, Lamar, Fr., 3.41 GPA
 
Eric Nachtsheim, McNeese, Sr., 3.97 GPA *
Jakob Blackwell, McNeese, Sr., 3.97 GPA
Brady Corcoran, McNeese, So., 3.73 GPA
Parker Morgan, McNeese, Sr., 3.85 GPA
Connor Walker, McNeese, Fr., 3.91 GPA
 
Eli Tidwell, UNO, Jr., 3.91 GPA
Dathan Cummings, UNO, So., 3.90 GPA
Dylan Biddick, UNO, Jr., 3.60 GPA
Owen Smith, UNO, Jr., 3.56 GPA
Luke Lycette, UNO, Sr., 3.33 GPA
 
Caston Thompson, Nicholls, Jr., 3.91 GPA 
Carter Jenkins, Nicholls, Sr., 3.83 GPA
Dawson Richard, Nicholls, Jr., 3.79 GPA
Greyson Shafer, Nicholls, Sr., 3.68 GPA
Casey Artigues, Nicholls, Sr., 3.48 GPA
 
Brooks Leonard, NWST, Jr., 3.59 GPA 
Joe Siervo, NWST, Sr., 3.42 GPA
JT Simonelli, NWST, Jr., 3.92 GPA
Jacob LeBlanc, NWST, So., 3.67 GPA
Cater White, NWST, So., 4.00 GPA
 
Blake Lobell, SLU, Sr., 3.64 GPA
Peyton Woods, SLU, Jr., 3.73 GPA * 
Connor Cuff, SLU, Jr., 3.36 GPA
Logan Freche, SLU, Fr., 3.50 GPA
 
Mark Henning, SFA, Sr., 3.91 GPA  
Jhett Creel, SFA, Jr., 3.67 GPA *
Jack James, SFA, Sr., 3.79 GPA
Cody Templeton, SFA, Sr., 3.87 GPA
Brennan Greer, SFA, Jr., 3.57 GPA
 
Chase Mayer, TAMUCC, Jr., 3.50 GPA 
Cade Sanchez, TAMUCC, Sr., 3.41 GPA *
Christian Smith-Johnson, TAMUCC, Sr., 3.36 GPA
Isaiah Afework, TAMUCC, Jr., 3.80 GPA
Easten Smith, TAMUCC, Sr., 3.42 GPA
 
Rocco Garza Gongora, UTRGV, R-Jr., 3.56 GPA  
Armani Raygoza, UTRGV, R-Jr., 3.43 GPA *
Julius Ramirez, UTRGV, Jr., 3.33 GPA
Thomas Williams, UTRGV, R-Sr., 3.48 GPA
Easton Moomau, UTRGV, Jr., 3.69 GPA
 
*First Team All-Conference Selection