The Culver-Stockton baseball team opened the 2026 campaign with a wild 16-14 victory over Health Sciences and Pharmacy (UHSP) Tuesday night at Lloyd Hopkins Field in Alton, Ill.

After a crazy first inning that ended with the Eutectics leading 6-5, the Wildcats trailed 7-5 in the third inning when C-SC tied the game with a RBI groundout by Harry Oden and a run that scored on a balk by the UHSP pitcher.

The Wildcats took the lead for good with a three-run fourth inning on a RBI double by General Schofield and a two-run double by Oden.

C-SC added three more runs in the fifth inning when Kannon Kirk doubled home Brandon Diaz Valentin and Jeremiah Morris followed with a two-run homer to make the score 13-7.

UHSP plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to close to within 13-12 and there wouldn't be any more scoring until the ninth inning when the Wildcats added three important insurance runs.

In the ninth, Cooper Kiel walked to begin the inning and replaced by Tyler Schmidt as a courtesy runner. Schmidt stole second and advanced to third on a single by Diaz Valentin. Diaz Valentin then stole second and Kirk drove in both runners with his second double of the game.

Kirk eventually scored on a wild pitch to give the Wildcats a 16-12 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth inning.

C-SC would need those runs as the Eutectics got a solo home run to lead off the ninth, then put two more runners on base with on of them scoring to cut the lead to 16-14.

The Wildcats inserted Jared Marty on the mound and he recorded the final out with the tying run at the plate to preserve the victory.

Oden finished the game with six runs batted in by going 3-for 5 in the game. Kirk was 4-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored while Morris and Jack Linenfelser recorded two RBI each.

The Wildcats are scheduled to play a four-game series this Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14-15, at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tenn. The doubleheader on Saturday is slated to begin at 12 p.m.