2026 Big West Softball Schedule | Standings | Stats | Week 5 & 6 (March 5) Notes (.pdf)
Conference Play at Bat
- Conference play opens around The Big West with a pivotal stretch of matchups running Friday, March 6, through Sunday, March 15, as rivalry series, island clashes, and early positioning in the standings take center stage across the league.
All eyes are set on the ultimate prize, a spot among the top six teams in the 2026 Big West Softball Championship. The four-day, double-elimination Championship returns to Anderson Family Field on the campus of Cal State Fullerton for the second consecutive season, where the conference champion will earn The Big West’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division I Softball Championship.
A year ago, UC Santa Barbara galvanized a postseason run to remember. After falling in their first game, the Gauchos rattled off six straight elimination-game victories to claim the inaugural Big West Softball Championship title. UCSB carried that momentum into the NCAA Championship, notching the program’s first two Division I tournament wins and advancing to the Los Angeles Regional Final to cap a historic season that rewrote the record books.
What 2 Watch 4
Friday, March 6, opens with a trio of conference doubleheaders as UC Riverside travels to CSUN and Hawai'i visits UC Davis, while Cal State Bakersfield heads to Long Beach State for a single game under the lights on ESPN+. Early conference returns have showcased explosive offenses and dominant pitching performances, with multiple teams carrying ERAs under 3.00 and several everyday starters hitting north of .300 entering the weekend. The series continues Saturday, March 7, with additional action including UC San Diego at UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly at Cal State Fullerton, before wrapping up Sunday, March 8.
Non-conference play briefly takes center stage early in the week as Utah Valley visits UC Davis on Monday, March 9, giving the Aggies a midweek tune-up opportunity while looking to build on strong on-base percentages and timely hitting through the first month of the season.
Tuesday, March 10, features California Baptist at UC San Diego and North Dakota State at Long Beach State, with Wednesday, March 11, bringing Notre Dame to UC Santa Barbara and North Dakota State to UC Riverside. The midweek slate offers key RPI-building opportunities as Big West squads continue to rank among the national leaders in stolen bases per game and strikeout-to-walk ratios inside the circle.
League play resumes in full force Friday, March 13, with UC Davis at UC San Diego and Long Beach State at UC Riverside in doubleheader action, while CSUN travels to Cal State Bakersfield. Cal State Fullerton makes the trip across the Pacific to face Hawai'i in a Friday twin bill before concluding the series Saturday.
Saturday also sees UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly open their series in San Luis Obispo, with the series closing out on Sunday, March 15. With conference standings tightening and several clubs separated by just a game or two, every inning will carry postseason implications.
A total of 27 contests will air live on ESPN+ throughout the course of the next two weeks. Check our softball schedules online to keep up with all of the action across our Big West teams.
2026 Big West Softball Schedule
Around the Dugouts
Cal Poly (6-13) - CP earned a statement 5-4 comeback victory over Kansas City to open Sunday play at the Reggie Smith Invitational, powered by senior righthander Amy Ross, who struck out three and allowed just five hits over 6.1 innings to secure her first win of the season. Sophomore catcher Maya Venegas paced the offense with two doubles and two RBI, while Micayla Arlotto and Madi Bohannon ignited a decisive sixth-inning rally that flipped a one-run deficit into the game-winning margin. Junior righthander Ally Robbins locked down the final two outs for her first save of 2026 as the Mustangs collected eight hits in the victory. Cal Poly now opens its 29th season of Big West play at Cal State Fullerton on March 7-8, beginning with a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m.
Cal State Bakersfield (2-13) - The Roadrunners faced one of their toughest slates of the season, squaring off against California Baptist (17-4), No. 23 GCU (22-0), Wisconsin (13-6) and No. 23 Arizona State (19-3), and showed resilience throughout the weekend. CSUB nearly stunned Arizona State in the finale as Aileen Balderas delivered a seventh-inning RBI single to cut the deficit to 2-1 before CSUB loaded the bases with two outs. In the circle, Cedes Saldana logged 18.0 innings across four appearances, tossing two complete games while keeping both Wisconsin and Arizona State within reach. Cal State Bakersfield opens Big West play at Long Beach State with a three-game series beginning Friday night.
Cal State Fullerton (11-9) - Defending regular-season champion CSF closed non-conference action dominantly, going a perfect 5-0 at the Judi Garman Classic while slashing .333/.396/.462 as a team with 27 runs, 39 hits, five home runs, and 14 stolen bases. Colby McClinton led the charge, batting .400 with three home runs and five RBI during the tournament and boosting season totals to a team-best .367 average, five homers and 19 RBI. In the circle, Trisha McCleskey went 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA across 22 innings, striking out 20 and limiting opponents to a .210 batting average. Riding a five-game win streak, the Titans open conference play at home against Cal Poly on March 7-8 with a Friday doubleheader at 1 p.m.
CSUN (4-12) - CSUN shined offensively in its tournament finale, highlighted by Raegan Jackson, who doubled and stole their team-leading eighth base of the season, and Mackenzie Kila, who added an RBI single. Isabella Valdez recorded a two-hit performance as the Matadors capitalized on early opportunities to build a 2-0 lead. In the circle, Kaitlyn Tso worked four innings while Malia Williams provided two innings of relief as CSUN continued to develop pitching depth. The Matadors now open Big West play at home against UC Riverside with a Friday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Hawai‘i (8-10) - The Rainbow Wahine captured three wins at their annual OUTRIGGER Classic, highlighted by a one-hit, complete-game shutout from Macy Brandl, who struck out five without issuing a walk in an 8-0 run-rule victory. Jamie McGaughey homered twice on the weekend and now owns a team-high four long balls, while Maycen Gibbs added three homers of their own and delivered multiple clutch RBI in extra-inning action. Hannah Pitts earned two victories in the circle, combining for 11.1 innings and limiting opponents to five earned runs while navigating high-pressure moments. Hawai‘i now opens Big West play on the road at UC Davis with a Friday doubleheader on March 6.
Long Beach State (12-8)- LBSU went 3-1 over the weekend at the Hillenbrand Invitational, highlighted by an 11-2 run-rule win and an extra-inning walk-off victory as the Beach offense piled up 30 runs across four contests. Avery Weisbrook finished 5-for-7 on Friday with a double and a triple, while Miranda Gonzalez launched their first collegiate home run and added multiple RBI in comeback fashion. In the circle, Isabella Alonso earned two wins, tossing four scoreless innings against Minnesota as Long Beach State secured a shutout victory. The Beach returns home to host San Diego State midweek before opening Big West play against CSUB on Friday night.
UC Davis (11-8) - The Aggies closed the Capital Classic with back-to-back victories behind dominant pitching and timely offense, outscoring opponents 6-1 on Sunday. Ashley Sawai tossed six shutout innings against San Jose State, allowing just five hits with no walks, while Caroline Grimes followed with a complete-game effort against Sacred Heart, striking out seven and surrendering only one run. Offensively, Alyssa Dethlefson went 2-for-3 with two runs and a stolen base, and Gia Felice added two hits and an RBI as the Aggies combined for nine hits across the two wins. UC Davis opens Big West play at home against Hawai‘i with a Friday doubleheader on March 6.
UC Riverside (2-12) - UCR picked up a momentum-building 6-5 win over UNLV, racking up 10 hits and scoring in four different innings to secure the victory. Arianna Saldivar went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a double, while Aubrey Marx added two hits and an RBI in a pivotal three-run fifth inning. In the circle, Emory Cheng earned the win with five innings of work before Bree Barner struck out three across two scoreless innings for their first save of the season. The Highlanders now head to CSUN to begin Big West Conference play with a Friday doubleheader at 1 p.m.
UC San Diego (10-10) - The Tritons racked up a season-high 15 hits in tournament play and continue to be led offensively by shortstop Marley Espiau, who is batting .383 with 12 extra-base hits in 2026. Callie Howard added the first complete game of their career, showcasing endurance in the circle as the Tritons search to regain early-season form after starting 10-1. Despite recent setbacks, UC San Diego’s offensive production remains among the conference’s most dynamic. The Tritons open Big West play at UC Santa Barbara with a Saturday doubleheader on March 7
UC Santa Barbara (9-14) - Defending conference champion UCSB won five of six during its home tournament stretch, powered by a high-octane offense that launched multiple home runs and produced 25 runs across the victories. Ainsley Waddell delivered two home runs in a walk-off performance against LIU and drove in key runs throughout the weekend, while Tehya Banks and Delaina Ma'ae added timely extra-base hits during comeback efforts. Giselle Mejia fueled rallies with multi-RBI games as the Gauchos erased deficits in several late-inning wins. UC Santa Barbara opens Big West play at home against UC San Diego with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon on ESPN+.
D1 Softball Mid-Major Poll (Week 4)
Cal State Fullerton climbed to No. 5 following a perfect 5-0 showing at the Judi Garman Classic, slashing .333/.396/.462 as a team with six regulars batting above .300. The Titans have appeared in the D1Softball Mid-Major rankings every week this season, steadily rising from No. 11 in the preseason to their highest mark of the year. Junior outfielder Kate Verhoef paced the offense during the tournament, hitting .500 with six hits and swiping three bases, while the pitching staff continued to limit opponents with consistent strike-throwing and run prevention.
Long Beach State checks in at No. 12 after a 3-2 weekend in Tucson that included two tightly contested matchups against nationally ranked Arizona. The Beach also owns one of the signature wins of the mid-major landscape this season, knocking off then-No. 4 Oklahoma at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Avery Weisbrook has led the charge offensively, batting .407 with a team-best .644 slugging percentage and 19 runs scored, while ranking fourth nationally in assists at shortstop. In the circle, Lindsey Cowans and Audrey Lopetegui have combined for key innings against ranked opposition as the Beach continue to build momentum under first-year head coach Kendall Fearn.
Weekly Recognition
Cal State Fullerton infielder Colby McClinton slashed .400/.400/1.000 with three home runs over five games to earn The Big West Field Player of the Week accolade, presented by Rawlings. This is the first weekly distinction of the senior's career. McClinton accounted for three of the Titans’ five home runs on the week and paced the squad with five RBI as the team swept the competition as hosts of the annual Judi Garman Classic against the likes of BYU, California, LMU, Oregon State, and Seattle U. The Kaneohe, Hawai’i native continues to lead CSF overall in batting average (.367), slugging (.733), hits (22), doubles (5), triples (1), home runs (5), sacrifice bunts (4), RBI (19), and runs scored (16).
Cal State Fullerton senior pitcher Trisha McCleskey went 3-0 across three starts and five appearances to secure The Big West Pitcher of the Week award, presented by Rawlings in consecutive weeks. This is the fourth weekly distinction of the pitcher's career, after earning the honor last week, Feb. 23, 2026, and twice last year on April 7 and 28. In the circle, the senior logged 22 innings in the circle, limiting opponents to a .210 batting average with just five earned runs allowed in action against the field of the Judi Garmnan Classic.McCleskey tallied 20 strikeouts while issuing only five walks during the dominant week.
UC Santa Barbara freshman outfielder Dani Rauscher hit over .400 for the second consecutive weekend to claim The Big West Freshman of the Week achievement, presented by Rawlings. It is the first weekly recognition of Rauscher’s career. Rauscher recorded a double and a triple while driving in three runs from the leadoff spot. The freshman did not strike out in 21 at-bats, continuing to set the tone atop the lineup for the Gauchos.
New Faces Around the Dugout
CSUN named Jodie Cox interim head coach after her return to the Matador staff in 2025, making her the eighth coach in program history. A former CSUN assistant from 2005–07, Cox brings a wide-ranging résumé across Division I, Division III and high school levels, including experience during a stretch that produced 61 wins and an NCAA Regional berth. As pitching coach last season, she helped guide CSUN to a 3.61 staff ERA, 180 strikeouts, and a runner-up finish at the Big West Championship.
Panita Thanatharn was selected as the fourth head coach in Hawai'i softball history, succeeding longtime leader Bob Coolen following his retirement after 34 seasons. Thanatharn arrives after 16 seasons at Long Beach State, where she served as associate head coach, primary recruiter, and hitting coach while overseeing administrative and conditioning duties. Under her guidance, the Beach produced the 10 highest batting averages in program history, multiple national top-20 marks, and several single-season offensive records.
Kendall Fearn takes over as head coach at Long Beach State following the retirement of Kim Sowder after 19 seasons. Fearn played a key role in San Diego State's national rise as lead assistant, directing recruiting and defense during three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. The skipper's tenure included a 2023 Super Regional run and three consecutive Mountain West Tournament titles with the Aztecs.
Preseason Pognostics
Defending Big West Softball Champion UC Santa Barbara was narrowly selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026 Big West Softball Preseason Coaches Poll, as voted on by the league's 10 head coaches.
The Gauchos earned 78 points and six first-place votes to claim the top spot after winning the inaugural Big West Softball Championship last season. Cal State Fullerton, the defending regular-season champion, finished second with 75 points and four first-place votes, while Long Beach State placed third with 65 points.
Hawai'i and UC San Diego tied for fourth with 50 points apiece, followed by UC Davis in sixth with 38 points. CSUN (36), Cal Poly (27), UC Riverside (22), and Cal State Bakersfield (9) rounded out the 2026 preseason poll.
The league's head coaches also selected an 11-member Preseason All-Big West Team. Cal State Fullerton led all programs with five selections, followed by UC Santa Barbara with three. UC Davis, UC Riverside, and UC San Diego were each represented by one student-athlete.
Ava Arce headlines the Titans' preseason selections after leading the conference with a .405 batting average in 2025, while also pacing the league in hits (68), home runs (12), and RBI (63). The 2025 Big West Field Player of the Year posted a .690 slugging percentage. Alexia Lopez hit .349 with 52 hits and 29 RBI, while Nataly Lozano, the 2025 Big West Freshman of the Year, batted .389 with 65 hits, including 10 doubles and seven home runs. Colby McClinton returns after posting 50 hits, 37 runs, a .457 on-base percentage, and 14 stolen bases.
In the circle, Trisha McCleskey recorded a 16–9 record with a 3.44 ERA and 119 strikeouts over 166.2 innings pitched. She threw nine complete games and earned three saves while ranking among league leaders in wins and innings pitched. All five Titans named to the preseason team earned First Team All-Big West honors in 2025.
UC Santa Barbara's preseason selections include Bella Fuentes, Giselle Mejia, and Malaya Johnson, all First Team All-Big West honorees a season ago. Fuentes set a program single-season record with 62 RBI while leading the Gauchos in home runs (11) and slugging percentage (.559). Mejia tied the team lead with 62 hits and paced UCSB with 20 doubles. Johnson earned 2025 Big West Pitcher of the Year honors after striking out 123 batters with a 3.03 ERA, leading the league in wins (24) and innings pitched (221.2). She was also named Big West Softball Championship MVP.
The remainder of the preseason team includes Ashley Sawai of UC Davis, Maalia Cherry of UC San Diego, and UC Riverside's Rebeca Cabezas. Sawai struck out 96 batters over 148.2 innings in 2025 and has earned back-to-back selections on the preseason team. Cherry totaled 41 hits, 13 home runs, and 37 RBI during a phenomenal freshman campaign that featured D1 Softball National Freshman of the Week recognition on Feb. 18, 2025. Cabezas hit .350 with 50 hits and earned All-Big West Honorable Mention honors.
The top six teams in the regular-season standings will advance to the 2026 Big West Softball Championship, with the tournament champion earning the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Softball Championship. The four-day, double-elimination format returns for its second year, with the top two seeds receiving first-round byes.
The Championship will be held May 6–9 at Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, Calif, on the campus of Cal State Fullerton for the second straight season. Our 2026 Big West softball season begins Thursday, Feb. 6.
Preseason D1 Softball Mid-Major Rankings
The Big West was well represented in D1Softball's 2026 Preseason Mid-Major D100 Player Rankings, with five student-athletes earning recognition while two programs landed inside the national team poll. Cal State Fullerton checked in at No. 11 in the preseason team rankings behind veterans Ava Arce (No. 24) and Trisha McCleskey (No. 61), while UC Santa Barbara was ranked No. 15 with seniors Malaya Johnson (No. 21) and Bella Fuentes (No. 84) highlighted among the nation's top mid-major talent.
Arce and McCleskey headline the Titans after standout 2025 campaigns, with Arce coming off a record-breaking season that included Big West Field Player of the Year honors and McCleskey anchoring the pitching staff with a team-low 2.27 ERA in conference play. UC Santa Barbara's Johnson, the reigning Big West Pitcher of the Year, climbed 23 spots from last year's rankings after logging 223.1 innings, while Fuentes powered the Gaucho offense by setting the program's single-season RBI record.
Rounding out the list is Maalia Cherry (No. 91), now at UC San Diego after a breakout freshman season at Cal State Bakersfield that saw her lead The Big West in OPS and rank second in home runs. Collectively, the preseason honors underscore the depth of talent returning to the conference as Big West programs prepare for another nationally competitive season.
Preseason D1 Softball Mid-Major Top 100
No. 91 Maalia Cherry, Cal State Bakersfield
No. 84 Bella Fuentes, UC Santa Barbara
No. 61 Trisha McCleskey, Cal State Fullerton
No. 24 Ava Arce, Cal State Fullerton
No. 21 Malaya Johnson, UC Santa Barbara
Inaugural Championship Rewind
Last season, the inaugural Big West Softball Championship featured the conference's top six teams in a four-day, double-elimination format, with the winner earning the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Championship. No. 3 seed UC Santa Barbara captured the first-ever title with a 7–5 win over No. 2 CSUN in the decisive final game, clinching its first NCAA postseason appearance since 2007. Malaya Johnson was named Championship MVP after leading the Gauchos in the circle.
2025 Big West Softball All-Tournament Team
Isabella Alonso, CSUN
India Caldwell, UC San Diego
Lauryn Carranco, CSUN
Lily Hermosillo, UC San Diego
Malaya Johnson, UC Santa Barbara
Jerzie Liana, CSUN
Delaina Ma'ae, UC Santa Barbara
Izabella Martinez, Hawai'i
Giselle Mejia, UC Santa Barbara
Carly Robbins, Long Beach State
Gizella Sandoval Vargas, CSUN
Jazzy Santos, UC Santa Barbara
Liliana Thomas, Hawai'i
The Big West Championship History
After finishing top three in the four previous trips to the Women's College World Series, Cal State Fullerton brought home its first NCAA Championship, finishing 57-9-1 for the season in 1986. Pitching carried the Titans throughout the entire season, sporting a team ERA of 0.28 in 500 innings of work. Susan LeFebvre, the ace of the staff, went 31-6, throwing 284.2 innings, only allowing 11 earned runs all season and breaking the 200-strikeout mark with 208. Connie Clark was just as good, going 20-2, only allowing 5 runs in 155.1 innings. Opponents only hit .086 against the pitcher. In the postseason, the Titans went a perfect 5-0 in the WCWS, only allowing one run. During the five games, CSF brought home the championship, defeating Texas A&M by a score of 3-0. Clark started in the circle and threw a one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts while JoAnn Ferrieri knocked in the game-winning run. Judi Garman earned the coaches' 350th win in a 3-1 victory over Long Beach State 3-1 on May 10, 1986.
1986 season under Head Coach Judi Garman
Overall Record: 57-9-1 (.858)
Conference Record: 22-5-1 (.804)
Home: 30-4
Away: 16-3-1
Neutral: 11-2
Postseason Record: 7-0
National Finish: 1st (NCAA)
Overall, the conference has appeared in the Women's College World Series nine times, most recently in 1995.
|
|