| 2026 Big West Softball Schedule | Standings | Stats | Week 12 (April 29) Notes (.pdf)
What 2 Watch 4
The Big West regular-season wraps up this weekend with a full slate of action from Friday, May 1, through Saturday, May 2, as teams finalize seeding for the 2026 Big West Softball Championship. With five of six postseason berths secured and seeds No. 2- No 6 up for grabs, every game carries weight across the standings.
Friday, May 1 opens with a pivotal doubleheader between Cal State Fullerton (35-12, 22-2 BW) and UC Santa Barbara (27-22, 17-7 BW) at 1 p.m./3 p.m. The Titans have locked up the No. 1 seed behind the conference's top offense (.382 AVG, .592 SLG, 182 runs) and pitching staff (2.31 ERA, .208 opponent average), while the Gauchos counter right behind the with the league's No. 2 offense (.340 AVG, .504 SLG) and 2.47 ERA.
Also on Friday, Hawai'i (26-18, 18-6 BW) travels to UC Riverside (4-20, 4-20 BW) for a 3 p.m. first pitch. The Rainbow Wahine bring a balanced attack into the weekend, ranking among the top three in batting average (.326) and slugging (.500) while also posting a 2.51 ERA and a conference-best 10 shutouts.
At 5 p.m., Long Beach State (27-20, 15-9 BW) hosts CSUN (8-16, 8-16 BW) to open a key series. The Beach lead the conference with 56 doubles and rank fourth in batting average (.308) to go alongside a staff ERA of 2.75 ERA, while the Matadors are still in contention and continue to battle for the final postseason spot.
Rounding out Friday's slate, UC Davis (26-22, 15-9 BW) heads to Cal Poly (4-20, 4-20 BW) for a 4 p.m. first pitch. The Aggies rank among the league leaders in on-base percentage (.384) and walks (87), complemented by 91 strikeouts in the circle.
Saturday, May 2 features a full day of doubleheaders to close the regular season. CSF and UCSB conclude their series at 1 p.m./3 p.m., while UH and UCR continue at 1 p.m./3 p.m. LBSU and CSUN wrap up their series with a 1 p.m./3 p.m. twin bill, and UC Davis and Cal Poly finish at 1 p.m./3 p.m. as well.
With one postseason berth still to be decided and multiple teams jockeying for seeding position, the final weekend promises a climactic finish across The Big West.
11 contests are set for broadcast on ESPN+. Check listings for additional series 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!
Five teams have officially secured their spots in the 2026 Big West Softball Championship, with seeding still to be determined heading into the final weekend of conference play.
Cal State Fullerton leads the way at 22-2 in Big West action, having already clinched the No. 1 seed following a dominant run through league play. The Titans have set the standard on both sides of the ball, leading the conference with a .382 batting average and 182 runs scored while also pacing the league with a 2.31 ERA and .208 opponent average.
UC Santa Barbara sits in second at 17-7 in conference play, continuing to build a strong case for a top-two seed behind one of the league's most balanced profiles. The Gauchos rank second in batting average (.340) and slugging (.504) while pairing it with a 2.47 ERA and six shutouts in the circle.
Hawai'i holds third at 18-6, remaining firmly in the title conversation with a dynamic combination of power and pitching. The Rainbow Wahine rank among the top teams in slugging (.500) and have recorded a conference-best 10 shutouts alongside a 2.51 ERA.
Long Beach State and UC Davis are currently tied at 15-9 in league play, each jockeying for positioning in the middle of the standings. The Ags swept LBSU in their conference series this season. The Beach has leaned on extra-base production, leading the conference with 56 doubles while hitting .308 as a team, while UCD has relied on a disciplined offensive approach, drawing a league-best 87 walks to post a .384 on-base percentage.
With one postseason berth still up for grabs and multiple teams vying for final positioning, the standings remain fluid as The Big West heads into its final weekend before the championship.
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 (10-33, 4-20 BW)- Cal Poly closed out its final road series of the season at Hawai'i, battling through a challenging weekend against a surging Rainbow Wahine squad. Despite being limited offensively, Myleigh Cooper continued a standout freshman campaign, leading the Mustangs with a .379 average, 47 hits and three home runs, while hitting safely in 15 of the last 19 games. Leilani Allen (.325) and A'Niyla Byrd (.290) have anchored a lineup that remains one of the toughest to strike out in the nation, combining for elite contact rates alongside Mylina Garza. Karina Choi added a historic note this season, setting the program's single-season stolen base record with 19. Cal Poly returns home to host UC Davis for a Friday doubleheader and Saturday finale to close the 2026 campaign.
Cal State Bakersfield (10-37, 8-16 BW)- Cal State Bakersfield secured a 2-1 Big West series victory over UC Riverside, highlighted by dominant pitching and timely hitting. Cedes Saldaña led the way in the circle, tossing 16.1 innings across three appearances with just four earned runs and eight strikeouts, including a complete-game shutout to open the weekend. Offensively, Sabrina Erran (.600), Kayla Visser (.500) and Kandi Malama-Ahlo (.429, HR) paced a lineup that produced key run support, while seniors Alexia Castro and Hannah Garcia delivered clutch RBIs on Senior Day. Bakersfield showed resilience in bouncing back from a mid-series setback to clinch the series win. The Roadrunners wrap up the regular season with a home series against UC San Diego beginning Friday.
Cal State Fullerton (35-12, 22-2 BW)- Cal State Fullerton continued its dominant run through Big West play, sweeping Long Beach State to secure the No. 1 seed in the conference championship. Colby McClinton powered the offense with a home run and multiple RBIs in the opener, while Sarah Perez delivered a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs in the series. Kate Verhoef added extra-base production, and the Titans showcased depth with consistent run production across all three games. In the circle, Trisha McCleskey was exceptional, earning multiple wins and a save while striking out key batters in high-leverage moments. Cal State Fullerton closes the regular season on the road at UC Santa Barbara with a Friday doubleheader and Saturday finale.
CSUN (13-30, 8-16 BW)- CSUN battled through a competitive series against UC San Diego, highlighted by a strong Senior Day victory to close the weekend. Madison Okano and Raegan Jackson each drove in two runs in the finale, while Savannah Simons and Vanessa Perez contributed multi-hit efforts to fuel a 10-hit performance. In the circle, Malia Williams delivered a complete-game effort, allowing just five hits and shutting down the Tritons after the second inning. Earlier in the series, CSUN showed offensive flashes with seven hits in each game of the doubleheader, including RBIs from Jordan Ramirez and Okano. The Matadors head to Long Beach State for a three-game series beginning with a Friday doubleheader.
Hawai'i (26-18, 18-6 BW)- Hawai'i extended its momentum with a three-game sweep of Cal Poly, outscoring the Mustangs 21-2 behind dominant pitching and explosive offense. Taryn Irimata and Maryn MacNeil combined to allow just two hits across a doubleheader, with MacNeil earning a one-hit shutout in her first collegiate start. Offensively, Milan Ah Yat and Cierra Yamamoto delivered key extra-base hits, while Jamie McGaughey drove in the tying runs in a Senior Day comeback victory. Hannah Pitts secured the finale with a complete-game performance, allowing two runs while keeping Hawai'i in contention near the top of the standings. The Rainbow Wahine close the regular season on the road at UC Riverside with a three-game series beginning Friday.
Long Beach State (27-20, 15-9 BW)- Long Beach State showed offensive firepower in its rivalry series against Cal State Fullerton, highlighted by a breakout performance from Elissa Guerrero, who hit two home runs in a single day. Lina Apodaca and Audree Mendoza contributed key RBIs, while Priscilla Iniguez added to the team's home run total with a solo shot. The Beach produced multi-run innings and out-hit the Titans in the finale but were unable to hold late leads. Lindsey Cowans provided stability in the circle, keeping games within reach against one of the league's top offenses. Long Beach State returns home to host CSUN for a three-game series starting Friday.
UC Davis (26-22, 15-9 BW)- UC Davis punched its ticket to the Big West Championship with a doubleheader sweep of UC Santa Barbara, powered by both pitching and power hitting. Caroline Grimes and Ashley Sawai each tossed complete games, combining for eight strikeouts while limiting opponents to minimal scoring. At the plate, Rylee Reeves and Claire Shelton delivered home runs, while Gia Felice set the tone at the top of the lineup, going 3-for-7 with three runs scored. Alyssa Dethlefson added timely RBIs as the Aggies showcased depth in a balanced offensive effort. UC Davis closes the regular season on the road at Cal Poly with a three-game series beginning Friday.
UC Riverside (6-35, 4-20 BW)- UC Riverside displayed offensive bursts and resilience across its recent series, highlighted by a 7-1 victory over Cal State Bakersfield. Trendee Kahunahana led the way with a home run and multiple hits, while Leilani Juan and Arianna Saldivar each contributed multi-hit, multi-RBI performances. In the circle, Bree Barner earned a complete-game win, allowing just one run on four hits. Earlier in the week, Kayla Penor delivered a standout performance with two home runs and four RBIs against UC Davis, showcasing the Highlanders' power potential. UC Riverside returns home to host Hawai'i for a three-game series beginning Friday.
UC San Diego (20-26, 9-15 BW)- UC San Diego secured a series win over CSUN with a dominant doubleheader sweep, powered by record-setting power at the plate. Maalia Cherry led the charge, hitting a go-ahead home run and setting the program's single-season record with 13 long balls, while Zara Wasserman and Gianna Ioja added back-to-back home runs in the opener. Lily Hermosillo and Haley Garcia paced the offense in game two with multi-hit, multi-RBI performances. In the circle, Callie Howard and Bella Settembro combined to limit CSUN to just one run over 11 innings. UC San Diego heads into the final weekend needing strong results against Cal State Bakersfield, opening the series Friday.
UC Santa Barbara (27-22, 17-7 BW)- UC Santa Barbara closed its home slate with a series split against UC Davis, bouncing back with a 3-0 shutout victory in the finale behind a dominant pitching performance. Ella Myers led the Gauchos offensively, launching a home run and driving in two runs in the win, while Tehya Banks added key production throughout the series, including a two-run homer in game one. Malaya Johnson was outstanding in relief during the finale, striking out six across three scoreless innings to earn the save, while Ainsley Waddell set the tone early with four shutout frames. Giselle Mejia and Dani Rauscher contributed timely hits as UCSB continued to showcase balanced production at the plate. The Gauchos wrap up the regular season with a pivotal three-game series against Cal State Fullerton beginning with a Friday doubleheader.
D1 Softball Mid-Major Poll (Week 12)
No. 5 Cal State Fullerton
Weekly Recognition
Infielder Colby McClinton powered Cal State Fullerton at the plate to earn The Big West Field Player of the Week distinction, presented by Rawlings. This is the second weekly award of the season and of McClinton's career (March 2, 2026). McClinton posted a 1.429 slugging percentage, highlighted by two home runs and a double across three games against storied rival Long Beach State. The second baseman drove in a team-high six RBI, scored three runs, and added two walks over the series sweep. Defensively, McClinton recorded six putouts and three assists without committing an error. With those three wins over the weekend, CSF secured the 2026 Big West regular-season championship and will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Championship next week.
Pitcher Trisha McCleskey led Cal State Fullerton in the circle to secure The Big West Pitcher of the Week honor, presented by Rawlings. This is the fifth weekly distinction for McCleskey after earning the award twice this season (Feb. 23, March 2, 2026) and two times last year (April 7, 28, 2025). The pitcher totaled 14.0 innings across three appearances, allowing five earned runs on 13 hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. McCleskey opened the series with a complete-game victory and worked in all three contests during the weekend, while averaging over four innings per appearance. With those three wins over the weekend, CSF secured the 2026 Big West regular-season championship and will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Championship next week.
Pitcher Maryn Macneil led Hawai'i in the circle to claim The Big West Freshman of the Week accolade, presented by Rawlings. This marks the first weekly award of the freshman's career. Macneil earned the first collegiate win in the Roseville, Calif. natives first career start, tossing a one-hit, complete-game shutout in a mercy-rule victory over Cal Poly. The pitcher recorded a 0.00 ERA across 5.0 innings, allowing just one hit with no runs, one walk, and no strikeouts while holding opponents to a .071 batting average.
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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