ST. LOUIS – The 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Championship, hosted by Murray State, and presented by Credit Union 1 and the Murray Convention and Visitor's Bureau, will be held May 20-23, in Murray, Ky., at Johnny Reagan Field at Taylor Family Park.
 
UIC won its first MVC baseball regular-season title, and first Conference title since 2017, finishing the season with a 16-8 ledger in Valley play. The Flames will be the top seed heading into next week’s tournament.
 
Indiana State, who won seven of eight MVC series this year, including its series with Murray State, will be the No. 2 seed and join the Flames with a first-round bye.
 
The No. 3-seeded and tournament host Racers will face No. 6 Illinois State at 3 p.m. CT on Wednesday, after No. 4 Southern Illinois takes on No. 5 Evansville at 11 a.m. CT.
 
The championship is a double-elimination format, featuring three games each on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, to set up Saturday's championship.
 
All games of the 2026 MVC Baseball Championship will be available on The Valley on ESPN. Fans can find the most up-to-date information on MVC Championship Central. Admission to all games of the tournament will be free.
 
2026 MVC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 20
Game 1 | 11 a.m. CT – No. 4 Southern Illinois vs. No. 5 Evansville
Game 2 | 3 p.m. CT – No. 3 Murray State vs. No. 6 Illinois State
Game 3 | 7 p.m. CT* - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
 
Thursday, May 21
Game 4 | 11 a.m. CT – No. 1 UIC vs. Winner No. 4/5
Game 5 | 3 p.m. CT – No. 2 Indiana State vs. Winner No. 3/6
Game 6 | 7 p.m. CT* - Loser Game 4/5 (low seed) vs. Winner Game 3
 
Friday, May 22
Game 7 | 11 a.m. CT – Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
Game 8 | 3 p.m. CT* – Loser Game 4/5 (high seed) vs. Winner Game 6
Game 9 | 7 p.m. CT* - Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7
 
Saturday, May 23
Game 10 | 3 p.m. CT – Championship Game (Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9)
Game 11 | 7 p.m. CT – Championship Game (if necessary)
*elimination game