ST. PAUL, Minn. - The UMAC released its 2026 baseball awards Wednesday and Bethany first-year Jayden Knutson (Mankato) was named UMAC Rookie of the Year. Joining Knutson as First Team All-Conference are Aidan Byrd, Adryen Tietz, Vincent Curzie, Xander Meissner, Yunior Pena, Max Athmann, Josh Miller, and Gary Swann. Sean Gamble and Riston Wojcik earned honorable mention. 

Knutson leads the UMAC in on base percentage (.527), runs scored (52), stolen bases (30), and is second in walks (28) this season. Knutson has been at or near the top of the team's batting average leaders, currently hitting .392 with 51 hits, four doubles, four triples, a home run, and 29 RBI. 

Byrd, who makes his first All-UMAC appearance, is the ace of the staff with a 3.42 ERA and 8-0 record in nine starts. He leads the team with 50.0 innings and 53 strikeouts as opponents are batting .227. 

Tietz garners his second First Team honor as the No. 2 starter in the rotation. Tietz owns a 5.04 ERA and 5-1 record after nine starts. He's pitched 50.0 innings with 38 strikeouts. 

Curzie is a first time All-UMAC selection with a .364 batting average. Curzie has tallied 40 hits, 38 runs, six doubles, two triples, three home runs, 23 RBI, and a .536 slugging percentage. 

Meissner is a First Team selection for the second straight season. Meissner leads the UMAC with 33 walks, and ranks second in both RBI (49) and home runs (10). He owns a .386 batting average with 49 hits, 48 runs, and a .724 slugging percentage. Meissner reached 100 career hits and 101 career RBI in the regular season finale against Northwestern.

Pena, a junior transfer from Southern Maryland, leads the Vikings and the UMAC with a .419 batting average and is second in the league with a 1.276 OPS. Pena was named UMAC tournament MVP after batting 8-for-13 with eight runs, four home runs, seven RBI, and a double in three games. This season he has collected 52 hits, nine doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 40 RBI with a .766 slugging percentage and team-high 1.276 OPS. 

Athmann captures his first All-UMAC honor with a .347 batting average, 35 hits, 33 runs, eight doubles, six home runs, 32 RBI, .604 slugging, and is 9-for-11 in stolen base attempts. 

Miller is another first time All-Conference honoree with a .333 batting average, 44 hits, 26 runs, eight doubles, one triple, three home runs, 34 RBI, .477 slugging, and is 10-for-12 in stolen bases. 

Swann earns his second consecutive First Team selection with a .305 average, 39 hits, 37 runs, nine doubles, one triple, five home runs, 37 RBI, and .508 slugging. Swann reached the 100-career hit mark in the UMAC championship. 

As honorable mention selections, Gamble and Wojcik have been quality relievers out of the bullpen. Gamble has made six appearances and one start with 16 strikeouts in 9.0 innings while opponents are batting just .176. He also has one save. Wojcik owns a 3.00 ERA, 1-1 record, and one save in six appearances. He has six strikeouts in 6.0 innings and opponents are batting .261. 

Bethany continues its season at the NCAA regional Thursday afternoon in Whitewater, Wis. against Luther.