| 2026 Big West Softball Schedule | Standings | Stats | Week 11 (April 22) Notes (.pdf)
What 2 Watch 4
Conference play continues across The Big West with a full weekend slate from Friday, April 24, through Sunday, April 26, as teams look to solidify positioning down the stretch.
Friday’s action opens with Cal Poly (10-30, 4-17 BW) traveling to Hawai’i (23-18, 15-6 BW), where the Mustangs look to build off strong individual performances from Myleigh Cooper, who leads the team with a .393 average, while the Rainbow Wahine counter with Taryn Irimata’s recent stretch of complete-game victories and Milan Ah Yat’s power at the plate.
League leader Cal State Fullerton (31-12, 19-2 BW) hosts Long Beach State (27-16, 15-6 BW) in a marquee matchup, as the Titans bring one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, scoring 10 or more runs in five straight games, behind Alexia Lopez and Jenica Silvas. The Beach enters the series with momentum following a road sweep, highlighted by Avery Weisbrook’s record-tying three doubles in a game and clutch late-game power from Elissa Guerrero.
UC Davis (24-21, 13-8 BW) welcomes UC Santa Barbara (26-20, 16-5 BW) in another key series featuring two of the conference’s most balanced squads. The Aggies are coming off a dominant sweep powered by Sydney Polli’s record-tying five-hit performance and multiple shutouts from Ashley Sawai and Caroline Grimes, while the Gauchos counter with elite pitching depth led by Ainsley Waddell and Malaya Johnson, who combined for multiple shutouts last weekend.
CSUN (12-28, 7-14 BW) hosts UC San Diego (18-25, 7-14 BW) in a tightly matched series, with both teams looking to gain ground in the standings. The Matadors rely on consistent efforts in the circle from Malia Williams, while the Tritons bring power from Maalia Cherry, who has tied a program single-season home run record, and extra-base production from Zara Wasserman.
Cal State Bakersfield (8-36, 6-15 BW) hosts UC Riverside (5-33, 3-18 BW) in a series featuring two teams aiming to build late-season momentum. The Roadrunners’ offense continues to be fueled by Devon Wilkes’ .471 week and a lineup that ranks among the conference leaders in power, while the Highlanders look to Kayla Penor’s multi-home run performance from Isabel McElroy.
12 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
These Teams Are IN!
Cal State Fullerton, Hawai’i, Long Beach State, and UC Santa Barbara have officially clinched berths in the 2026 Big West Softball Championship. Four of the six spots have been taken.
CSF sits atop the standings with a commanding 19-2 conference mark, continuing its run as the conference’s standard with one of the most efficient offenses and deepest pitching staffs in league play. UH and LBSU follow closely at 15-6, each building strong conference résumés. Defending conference champion UCSB remains just behind at 16-5 in conference action, continuing to showcase one of the most balanced profiles in the league behind elite pitching and timely hitting, keeping the Gauchos in the mix for a top seed as well.
As the regular season winds down, the focus now shifts to seeding, with all four teams still in contention for positioning advantages at the championship, set for May 6-9 at Anderson Family Field.
Tune IN on ESPNU
A classic Big West rivalry takes center stage as Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton renew their storied matchup in a nationally televised showdown on ESPNU, set for Saturday, April 25, at 1 p.m. from Anderson Family Field in Fullerton. The series opens Friday at 6 p.m., with additional coverage on ESPN+, as two of the conference’s premier programs collide once again with postseason positioning on the line.
Cal State Fullerton enters atop the Big West standings with a 19-2 mark in conference play. Picked second in the 2026 Preseason Poll, the Titans backed it up with a league-best five Preseason All-Big West selections and have continued to set the pace in conference play.
Long Beach State, currently riding a six-game Big West winning streak, sits firmly in the top tier of the standings and has already clinched a postseason berth alongside the Titans. The Beach last claimed the conference crown in 2023, while Cal State Fullerton has secured back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025, continuing a run of dominance between the two programs that dates back over the past decade.
The rivalry has consistently carried championship implications, with the teams battling down to the final regular-season series in each of the last two years. With both programs once again in contention and already locked into the postseason, Saturday’s ESPNU matchup provides another high-stakes chapter in one of the Big West’s premier softball rivalries.
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 (10-30, 4-17 BW)- Cal Poly battled through a competitive series against Long Beach State, highlighted by Myleigh Cooper, who went 3-for-3 in the finale to raise a team-best .393 average. Kiara Blanchard and Maddy Bermudez each contributed key hits in the opener, with Bermudez driving in the Mustangs’ lone run, while Sienna Erskine and Mylina Garza added RBIs in Sunday’s 3-2 contest. In the circle, Ally Robbins retired 10 consecutive hitters in a strong relief outing, and Kaylee Davis added multiple strikeouts across extended appearances. The weekend also featured a major milestone as Lisa Modglin’s No. 22 jersey was retired, honoring one of the program’s all-time great hitters. Cal Poly travels to Hawai’i for a Big West series beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, April 24, followed by a Saturday finale.
Cal State Bakersfield (8-36, 6-15 BW) - Cal State Bakersfield continues to bring an aggressive offensive approach, ranking among the Big West leaders in stolen bases and hit-by-pitches while tying a program mark with 27 home runs. Devon Wilkes led the charge this week, going 8-for-17 (.471) with an .824 slugging percentage and six RBIs across four games. The Roadrunners’ lineup has consistently produced extra-base hits and applied pressure on opposing pitching staffs. Their offensive depth has kept them competitive as they push through the second half of conference play. Cal State Bakersfield returns home to host UC Riverside for a three-game series beginning Friday, April 25.
Cal State Fullerton (31-12, 19-2 BW) - Cal State Fullerton extended its dominance atop the Big West standings with a series sweep over Cal State Bakersfield, scoring 10 or more runs in five straight games. Alexia Lopez powered the offense with a .714 performance in the doubleheader, including a home run and multiple RBIs, while Jenica Silvas added four hits, a home run, and four RBIs across the series. Sarah Coccillos delivered key power with a home run and four RBIs in the finale, and Eva Hurtado anchored the circle with a shutout and multiple wins, adding seven strikeouts in relief. The Titans continue to showcase one of the most balanced lineups in the conference. Cal State Fullerton faces California Baptist midweek before hosting Long Beach State in a three-game series starting Friday, April 24.
CSUN (12-28, 7-14 BW) - CSUN had 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 (23-18, 15-6 BW) - Hawai’i continued its strong conference surge with a sweep of UC San Diego, extending its winning streak to six Big West games. Taryn Irimata dominated in the circle with multiple complete games, including a five-hit shutout with nine strikeouts, while earning three consecutive complete-game victories. Offensively, Milan Ah Yat and Kayara Tuiloma delivered key extra-base hits and home runs, while Jamie McGaughey added timely RBIs and multi-hit performances. The Rainbow Wahine showcased resilience by overcoming a four-run deficit in game one with a 10-run rally. Hawai’i returns home to host Cal Poly for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, April 24, followed by Senior Day on Saturday.
Long Beach State (27-16, 15-6 BW)- Long Beach State secured a statement road sweep over Cal Poly, combining timely hitting with strong pitching performances. Avery Weisbrook led the offense with five hits in the doubleheader, including three doubles to tie a program record, while Elissa Guerrero delivered the game-winning home run in extra innings to clinch the series. Lina Apodaca and Priscilla Iniguez set the tone at the top of the lineup with consistent multi-hit performances, and Kate Barnett anchored the bullpen with five scoreless innings and key strikeouts. The Beach tallied 13 runs on 21 hits in the doubleheader, showcasing depth throughout the lineup. Long Beach State heads to Cal State Fullerton for a pivotal three-game series beginning Friday, April 24.
UC Davis (21-21, 10-8 BW) - UC Davis powered its way to a three-game sweep of UC Riverside behind explosive offense and dominant pitching. Sydney Polli led the Aggies with a historic performance, going 6-for-8 in the doubleheader, including a five-hit game to tie a program record, along with a home run and five RBIs. Claire Shelton added a perfect 4-for-4 outing with a home run, while Olivia McFarland contributed her first career home run and multiple RBIs. In the circle, Ashley Sawai and Caroline Grimes combined for shutout performances, with Sawai striking out five in a complete game and Grimes adding six strikeouts over five scoreless innings. UC Davis returns home to host UC Santa Barbara for a three-game series beginning Saturday, April 25.
UC Riverside (5-33, 3-18 BW) - UCR showed offensive flashes against UC Davis, highlighted by a seven-run performance in the series opener. Kayla Penor powered the lineup with two home runs and four RBIs, while Eta Lauti added a home run and multiple hits to lead the charge. Isabel McElroy and Taylor Wren helped spark rallies with consistent base hits, and Emory Cheng delivered a complete-game effort in game two, limiting UC Davis to three runs. The Highlanders also showcased strong defensive execution with key plays cutting down runners at the plate. UC Riverside travels to Cal State Bakersfield for a three-game series beginning Friday, April 25.
UC San Diego (18-25, 7-14 BW) - The Tritons battled in a competitive series against Hawai’i, highlighted by strong extra-base production and solid pitching. Maalia Cherry led the offense with a home run and multiple hits, tying a program record for single-season home runs, while Zara Wasserman added multiple doubles and RBIs. In the circle, Callie Howard threw complete games and limited scoring, including a one-run performance in the finale. The Tritons generated scoring chances throughout the series but were unable to capitalize in key moments. UC San Diego travels to CSUN for a three-game series beginning Friday, April 24.
UC Santa Barbara (26-20, 16-5 BW) - UCSB bounced back in a big way with a series sweep of CSUN, powered by dominant pitching and timely hitting. Sophia Clark delivered a complete-game effort in game one, allowing just one earned run while striking out three, and Malaya Johnson followed with a five-inning shutout, striking out six in the run-rule victory. Offensively, Tehya Banks and Ella Myers each homered, while Emily Carr and Bella Fuentes combined for multiple hits and RBIs to fuel a 13-hit performance in game two. Ainsley Waddell capped the weekend with a one-hit shutout, striking out six in a 1-0 victory to secure the sweep. UC Santa Barbara heads to UC Davis for a three-game series beginning Saturday, April 25.
D1 Softball Mid-Major Poll (Week 11)
No. 7 Cal State Fullerton
No. 24 Long Beach State
Weekly Recognition
Infielder Sarah Coccillos powered Cal State Fullerton to a series sweep at Cal State Bakersfield to earn The Big West Field Player of the Week distinction, presented by Rawlings. This is the second weekly award of the sophomore’s career after being named Freshman of the Week back on April 28, 2025. Coccillos slashed .444/.400/1.333, leading the team with two home runs, two doubles, seven RBI, and 12 total bases across the team’s third straight (fifth overall) conference series sweep. Defensively, Coccillos was flawless at the hot corner, recording one putout and four assists without committing an error. With the win, CSF clinched a spot in the upcoming 2026 Big West Softball Championship behind it’s league best 19-2 conference record.
Pitcher Taryn Irimata led Hawai‘i in the circle with two complete-game victories to secure The Big West Pitcher of the Week honor, presented by Rawlings, in back-to-back weeks, and for the fourth time overall (Feb. 9, March 23, April 13, 2026). Irimata posted a 1.00 ERA across 14.0 innings at UC San Diego, allowing just two runs while limiting opponents to 11 hits. The pitcher opened the series with a complete-game effort, allowing two runs on six hits with four strikeouts in a 3-2 victory. Irimata followed with a shutout in the finale, tossing a complete game with a career-high nine strikeouts while surrendering just five hits in a 2026 Big West Softball Championship clinching victory.
Outfielder Elissa Guerrero paced Long Beach State at the plate across four games to claim The Big West Freshman of the Week accolade. This is the first weekly distinction of the freshman’s career. The Palmdale, Calif. native hit safely in all four contests, batting .467 with a .667 slugging percentage while recording three multi-hit games. The outfielder opened the week with a 2-for-3 showing and three RBI against No. 8 UCLA and continued with back-to-back multi-hit games at Cal Poly. Guerrero delivered a decisive solo home run in the ninth inning of the series finale against the Mustangs, providing the game-winning run. With the win, LBSU landed a spot in the upcoming 2026 Big West Softball Championship.
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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