CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University Softball team will open up their 2026 season at the Gulf Shores Invitational tomorrow and Sunday at the Gulf Shores Complex in Gulf Shores, Ala.
 
The Lady Statesmen will play five games in a three-day stretch with a triple header on Friday followed by a Double Header on Sunday.
 
On Friday, DSU will open up their season against the Knights from Middle Georgia State University at 11:00 a.m. (CT). Following that, they will play against the Panthers from Florida Tech at approximately 1:15 p.m. (CT). After that, the Lady Statesmen will finish day one against the Riverhawks from Northeastern State University at approximately 3:15 p.m. (CT).
 
On Sunday, The Lady Statesmen will finish the invitational against two nationally ranked opponents starting with the Lions from Saint Leo University with the first pitch being at 10:00 a.m. (CT). Following that, DSU will take on the Nighthawks from the University of North Georgia at 12:15 p.m. (CT).
 
Scouting the Lady Statesmen

• Delta State looks to exceed preseason expectations as the Lady Statesmen were picked 11^th in the Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. DSU finished the 2025 season with a 12-35 overall record and a 5-26 record in Gulf South Conference Play.
• The Lady Statesmen return their top hitter from the 2025 season in junior infielder Kyleigh Wheaton. Wheaton led the Lady Statesmen in 2025 as she hit .310 with 17 rbis, three doubles, three triples and two home runs. Wheaton was a threat on the base paths as well stealing six bags on six attempts.
• Delta State also return two players who played in 40 or more games last season in senior infielder Calli McConnell and sophomore outfielder Mary Teague. Last season, McConnell started in all 47 games at third base where she hit .271 with five doubles and 15 runs driven in. Teague had the team's best on base percentage as she played in right field for 43 games. The Medina, Tenn., native held a .407 on base percentage with 17 walks, 21 HBPs and scored the team high 25 runs on the season.
• The Lady Statesmen bring in two members of the Gulf South Conference Newcomers to Watch list. First member being junior outfielder Joryie McKnight who transferred to Delta State from Itawamba Community College. The Pontotoc native had a solid season for the Indians where she batted .342 with 13 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Along with McKnight is junior outfielder Carly Dunigan. Dunigan transferred to Delta State from Northwest Mississippi Community College where she batted .397 with 17 doubles, 10 triples, 43 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .620.

Scouting the Knights

• Middle Georgia State University is making their first year in the NCAA Division II level after competing in the NAIA. The Knights have been picked to finish tenth in the Peach Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll receiving 9 points.
• The Knights finished 40-10 a year ago including an impressive 25-1 mark in Southern States Athletic Conference play that led to a runaway regular season title. MGA also swept their way through the Conference Tournament before ending their season at the NAIA National Tournament.
• The Knights return NAIA All-American Madison Cosgrove. Cosgrove Played and started in 46 games for the Knights in 2025 where she led the team in batting average (.438), OPS (1.233), and slugging percentage (.736).

Scouting the Panthers

• The Florida Tech Panthers enter the 2026 season selected seventh in the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Poll. The Panthers finished the 2025 season with a 29-22 overall record and a 15-15 record in SSC Play.
• Leading the way into 2026 for the Panthers is senior outfielder Ella Niles, who enters her senior season fourth in program history with 77 stolen bases, a constant at the top of the Panther lineup for the past two seasons.
• The Panthers will also return is senior third baseman Miranda Schwartz, who begins this season six home runs shy of their program's record.

Scouting the Riverhawks

• Northeastern State softball was picked to finish 12th in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association preseason coaches' poll released Friday January 16th. The RiverHawks received 26 points in the voting by MIAA head coaches as they prepare for the 2026 campaign. NSU will open its season on Jan. 30 in Gulf Shores, Alabama, marking the first season under first-year head coach Cassidy Bowen.
• NSU will return their top hitter in junior utility Korynn Tindel. In the 2025 season, Tindel led the RiverHawks with a .354 batting average with eight doubles, five triples, and six home runs with 24 runs driven in. Tindel was also the top pitcher for NSU in the circle as she held a 3.20 ERA in 13 appearances where she struck out 16 batters.
• Along with Tindel is senior infielder Maddie Speer. Speer played in all 48 games for Northeastern State in the 2025 season where she had a team high 143 at-bats with 12 doubles, 28 RBIs and 16 walks.

Scouting the Lions

• Saint Leo University Softball was picked to finish at the top of the standings in 2026. The Lions tied with the reigning national runner-up, the University of Tampa Spartans, with 90 points in the poll, with Saint Leo earning four first-place votes. Also, Saint Leo opens up the season ranked 20^th in the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association.
• The Lions return a strong core for the 2026 season, including All-Region honorees Alexis Barber, Briana Neal, Sydney Cline, and Tierney Hocquard, along with All-SSC First Team outfielder Maddie Antioco.
• The Green & Gold welcome four freshmen and two transfers, Izzy LaRoche (Seminole State) and Alex Wright (USF). Saint Leo looks to build on its recent success all under the guidance of the 2025 SSC Coach of the Year and the NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year, Erin Kinberger, Zack Carver, Alexis Carver, and Pat Affrunti.

Scouting the Nighthawks

• Reigning Peach Belt Conference regular season champion and sixth-ranked University of North Georgia (UNG) has been selected as the favorite to capture the league title in 2026, as voted by the conference's coaches. The Nighthawks received six first-place votes in the preseason poll. Georgia College earned two first-place votes, while Flagler and Georgia Southwestern each picked up one.
• All-Americans Carleigh Knowles and Sydnee Reaves headline a large returning class for the Nighthawks in 2026. Knowles played and started all 64 contests, leading the team with a .384 batting average, .803 slugging percentage and .443 on-base percentage. She recorded 309 putouts and a .994 fielding percentage. Reaves started all 64 games and paced the Nighthawks with a .400 batting average, adding a .700 slugging percentage and .444 on-base percentage. She totaled 89 putouts with a .970 fielding percentage.
• Four Nighthawks were also named to the PBC Preseason All-Conference Team: Marycille Brumby, Knowles, Reaves and Chloe Poss. Brumby started all 64 games in 2025, batting .300 with a .582 slugging percentage and a .401 on-base percentage. She totaled 413 putouts and posted a .991 fielding percentage. Poss made 33 appearances in the circle, including 20 starts, compiling a 20-4 record with a 3.34 ERA and 141 strikeouts.