| 2026 Big West Softball Schedule | Standings | Stats | Week 10 (April 16) Notes (.pdf)
What 2 Watch 4
Conference play continues across The Big West with a full slate of action this week, as five squads have collected double-digit win totals in league play with three weeks remaining.
The weekend slate gets underway Friday, April 18, highlighted by a series between Cal Poly (10-27, 4-14 BW) and Cal State Bakersfield (8-33, 6-12 BW), with both programs aiming to build momentum in the middle of the standings. The Mustangs continue to lean on timely hitting and depth in the circle, while the Roadrunners look to capitalize on recent offensive production and improved late-game execution.
UC Davis (21-21, 10-8 BW) travels to Long Beach State (24-16, 12-6 BW) in a key matchup featuring two balanced squads. The Aggies bring a steady offensive approach with multiple contributors near the top of the conference leaderboards, while the Beach counters with one of the league’s most consistent lineups and strong pitching performances that have kept them in the upper tier of the standings.
One of the weekend’s marquee matchups features Hawai’i (20-17, 12-6 BW) on the road at UC Santa Barbara (23-20, 13-5 BW). The Gauchos have remained among the conference leaders thanks to a combination of power hitting and dominant outings in the circle, while the Rainbow Wahine continue to surge behind a well-rounded attack and disciplined pitching staff.
Conference-leading Cal State Fullerton (28-12, 16-2 BW) heads to CSUN (11-25, 7-11 BW) looking to maintain its position near the top of the standings. The Titans’ offense has been fueled by some of the conference’s top individual performers, while the Matadors aim to play spoiler behind timely hitting and aggressive base running.
Elsewhere in The Big West, UC Riverside (5-29, 3-15 BW) hosts UC San Diego (17-22, 7-11 BW) in a matchup featuring two teams looking to climb the standings. Both squads will rely on continued development at the plate and key contributions from their pitching staffs as they search for late-season momentum.
13 contests are set for broadcast on ESPN+ from today through mid-March. Check listings for additional match information.
2026 Big West Softball Schedule
2026 Championship Tickets on Sale!
The Big West Softball Championship returns to Anderson Family Field on the campus of Cal State Fullerton May 6-9, 2026. Tickets for the six-team event go on sale Monday, March 16 at 10 a.m. PT.
All-session tickets, priced at $77, provide access to all four days of the double-elimination event. Senior (55+) and youth (12 & under) all-session tickets are $65. Children under three are free. For additional details or to purchase tickets, click HERE.
Single-session general admission tickets are also available for $16 for adults, $14 for Senior/Youth and $11 for groups of 20 or more. Group tickets are not available on the day of any game of the championship. Championship session tickets are #21 for adults, $18 for Senior/Youth , and 16 for groups of 20 or more. For additional details or to purchase tickets, click HERE.
The Big West’s top six teams will compete for the conference title, with the champion once again earning an automatic berth in the NCAA Championship.
UC Santa Barbara secured the conference title in 2025 in dramatic fashion. The No. 3 seed Gauchos won six straight elimination games to claim the crown in the conference’s first-ever softball championship event.
All teams in The Big West will compete for the coveted top-seed heading into the postseason. Last season, the No. 2, 3, and 4 championship seeds shared identical conference records of 17-10, showcasing the league's competitiveness. Cal State Fullerton has won seven of the last eight Big West regular-season titles, while Long Beach State has earned the other two in 2023 and 2021.
The 2026 matchups and game times are as follows:
Wednesday, May 6
1 p.m. | Game 1: No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed
4 p.m. | Game 2: No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed
7 p.m. | Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
Thursday, May 7
1 p.m. | Game 4: No. 1 seed vs. Game 1 winner
4 p.m. | Game 5: No. 2 seed vs. Game 2 winner
7 p.m. | Game 6:
Friday, May 8
1 p.m. | Game 7: TBD
4 p.m. | Game 8: TBD
7 p.m. | Game 9: TBD
Saturday, May 9
1 p.m. | Game 10: Championship
TBD (Approx. 45 mins post G10) | Game 11: If Necessary
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.
Around the Dugouts
Cal Poly (10-27, 4-14 BW) battled through a tough road series at UC San Diego, showing late-game fight despite dropping all three contests. Maya Venegas highlighted the weekend with her first career home run, while Karina Choi and Myleigh Cooper each sparked brief rallies with timely hits as the Mustangs out-hit the Tritons in multiple games but left key runners stranded. Cal Poly nearly erased a nine-run deficit in game two, finishing with 14 total hits in that contest alone, but UC San Diego’s early offense proved too much to overcome. Defensively, the Mustangs continued to create pressure with stolen bases and aggressive baserunning, though UCSD capitalized on limited opportunities. Cal Poly returns home next week to host Long Beach State in a Big West series on April 18-19 at Baggett Stadium.
Cal State Bakersfield (8-33, 6-12 BW) secured a Big West series win over Cal Poly, taking two of three behind timely hitting and steady pitching across the weekend. Cailee Carr delivered a key two-run home run in game two, while Kayla Whaley went 4-for-10 in the series and scored three times to help anchor the offense. In the circle, Cedes Saldana earned two wins after working 13 innings across her starts, and Amber Estrada added a strong outing in the rubber match. The Roadrunners closed the series with a walk-off RBI single from Kayla Visser in a tight finale, showcasing their late-inning composure. Cal State Bakersfield returns to Big West action next week, with its schedule to be determined.
Cal State Fullerton (28-12, 16-2 BW) continued its dominant conference run with a series sweep of UC Riverside, powered by elite pitching and explosive innings. Trisha McCleskey threw a complete game with seven strikeouts in game one, while Eva Hurtado followed with a career-high 10 strikeouts in a shutout in game two. Leanna Garcia added a milestone moment with a five-inning no-hitter, marking one of the standout pitching performances of the Big West season. Offensively, Sarah Coccillos, Colby McClinton, and Sarah Perez fueled a 15-run outburst in the finale as Fullerton finished the series with 18 hits. The Titans return to Big West play next week, with their matchup schedule to be announced.
CSUN (11-25, 7-11 BW) split a dramatic week against UC Davis, highlighted by multiple late-inning comebacks and clutch hitting. Mackenzie Kila delivered a three-hit performance in extras with a game-tying RBI single, while Raegan Jackson powered the offense with four RBIs across the doubleheader, including a two-run homer in game one. Malia Williams anchored the pitching staff with a complete-game effort in game two and added a strong six-inning outing earlier in the series. The Matadors also executed a momentum-shifting triple play in game one, which helped fuel their comeback win. CSUN continues Big West play next week, with its schedule to be finalized.
Hawai’i (20-17, 12-6 BW) swept Cal State Bakersfield in a dominant weekend series highlighted by power hitting and strong pitching across three games. Jamie McGaughey led the offensive surge with multiple home runs, including a two-run blast and a bases-clearing double in game one. At the same time, Maycen Gibbs and Kolbi Kochi each added key extra-base hits throughout the series. In the circle, Taryn Irimata delivered back-to-back complete-game performances, including a shutout in the finale with seven strikeouts. The Rainbow Wahine scored double-digit runs in multiple games, including a 14-hit, run-rule victory in game two. Hawai’i continues its road stretch next week at San Diego on April 15 before opening another Big West series beginning April 17.
Long Beach State (24-16, 12-6 BW) delivered a statement weekend sweep of UC Santa Barbara, capped by two come-from-behind wins and a dominant run-rule finish. Lina Apodaca powered the offense with a 3-for-3, three-RBI performance in the finale, while Priscilla Iniguez and Nina Sepulveda came through with clutch late-game hits across the series. The Beach exploded for eight runs in game one and closed the weekend with a 9-1 five-inning victory behind consistent pressure at the plate. Pitching was steady throughout, with Isabella Alonso and Kate Barnett combining for key wins as Long Beach State controlled critical late innings. The Beach hosts No. 8 UCLA next week before continuing Big West play.
UC Davis (21-21, 10-8 BW) showed resilience in a hard-fought split against CSUN, highlighted by a walk-off extra-inning win and multiple late rallies. Olivia McFarland drove in key runs across the series, including a sacrifice fly and clutch two-out RBI single, while Annika Norquist added timely extra-base hits in both games. In the circle, Caroline Grimes delivered six strong innings in game one, and Ashley Sawai closed out the win in relief with two scoreless innings. The Aggies also showed offensive balance with multi-hit performances from Sydney Polli and Alyssa Dethlefson.
UC Riverside (5-29, 3-15 BW) battled through a challenging series against Cal State Fullerton, highlighted by flashes of offensive patience and early scoring opportunities. Eta Lauti and Jackie Alday each contributed extra-base hits, with Alday adding a double as the Highlanders created early pressure in multiple innings. Trinity Munoz and Kayla Penor helped produce UC Riverside’s lone run in game one, while the team drew multiple walks across the series to extend innings. Despite limited hits, the Highlanders continued to compete defensively, including turning a double play in game two. UC Riverside returns home next week to host California Baptist on April 16.
UC San Diego (17-22, 7-11 BW) extended its momentum with a series win over Cal Poly, powered by explosive starts and consistent run production. Zara Wasserman drove in three RBIs in game one, including a first-inning three-run homer, while Haley Garcia and Marley Espiau set the tone at the top of the lineup with multiple multi-hit performances. The Tritons erupted for six runs in the first inning of game two and added three more in the third behind key swings from Espiau and Wasserman. In the circle, Zoë Rutherford and Callie Howard combined for key wins, supported by a defense that turned a game-ending double play in the finale. UC San Diego continues Big West play next week with its schedule to be announced.
UC Santa Barbara (23-20, 13-5 BW) dropped a tightly contested series at Long Beach State despite strong offensive stretches and standout individual performances. Emily Carr provided the highlight of the weekend with a solo home run in game two, while Bella Fuentes and Giselle Mejia each delivered key RBI hits to keep the Gauchos competitive across multiple games. Delaina Ma’ae and Sophia Clark led a 4-0 shutout win earlier in the week, with Ma’ae blasting two home runs and Clark firing a complete-game shutout with five hits allowed. The Gauchos also showed patience at the plate with consistent traffic on the bases, though LBSU’s late-inning offense proved decisive in the final two games. UC Santa Barbara returns home next week to host CSUN on April 18-19 in Big West action.
D1 Softball Mid-Major Poll (Week 10)
-Cal State Fullerton continues to cement itself as one of the premier mid-major programs in the country, landing at No. 7 in the Week 10 D1 Softball Mid-Major Poll. The Titans have paired one of the most dominant pitching staffs in the Big West with an offense capable of breaking games open in a single inning, a combination that has made them a steady force week after week. With shutouts, no-hitters, and consistent run support stacking up, Fullerton’s profile continues to grow as one of the most complete teams in the mid-major landscape.
Long Beach State also remains firmly in the national conversation, coming in at No. 24 this week after another strong showing in conference play. The Beach have leaned into a timely, opportunistic offense and a pitching staff that has repeatedly delivered in pressure moments, especially late in games. Their ability to close out tight contests and generate momentum-shifting innings has kept them competitive against the Big West’s top tier, signaling a program that continues to trend upward as the season enters its final stretch.
Weekly Recognition
Infeidler Jamie McGaughey powered Hawai‘i to a series sweep over Cal State Bakersfield to earn The Big West Field Player of the Week distinction, presented by Rawlings. This is the first weekly distinction of the junior's career. McGaughey hit .667 (6-for-9) with two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI, accounting for a significant portion of the team’s 27 runs while posting a 1.556 slugging percentage and .700 on-base percentage. The third baseman delivered key moments throughout the series, including a five-RBI showing in game one, a 2-for-2 performance with a home run in game two, and a multi-hit effort in the finale. Defensively, McGaughey was flawless with 11 chances at the hot corner, contributing to two double plays without committing an error.
Taryn Irimata led Hawai‘i in the circle with back-to-back complete-game shutouts to secure The Big West Pitcher of the Week honor, presented by Rawlings. This is the third weekly distinction of the sophomore's career (Feb. 9, March 23, 2026). Irimata compiled a 0.00 ERA across 10.0 innings, allowing just four hits while holding opponents to a .118 batting average in the series sweep over CSUB. The pitcher opened with a one-hit shutout, matching a career-high with seven strikeouts while facing just 17 batters. Irimata followed with another 5.0-inning shutout in the finale, earning the eighth win of the season while allowing just three hits.
Infielder Nina Sepulveda paced Long Beach State in a series sweep over UC Santa Barbara to claim The Big West Freshman of the Week accolade, presented by Rawlings. This is the first weekly award of the freshman’s career. This is the fourth weekly distinction for Sepulveda's career (Feb. 16, 23, and March 16). Sepulveda recorded a hit in all three games, contributing timely offense throughout the series. The infielder delivered a walk-off hit in a seventh-inning comeback victory in game two and added an RBI in both the opener and finale. Sepulveda also contributed on the basepaths with a stolen base in the series-clinching win.
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.
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