Illinois State, North Dakota, Utah State Split Season Openers

The 2026 NCAA softball season burst out of the gates this week, with teams from across the country making early statements in tournaments from Honolulu to Tampa and College Station. North Dakota, Illinois State, and Utah State each took to the diamond, showcasing both veteran leadership and fresh faces as they opened their respective campaigns with split results and bold performances.

In Honolulu, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks kicked off their season at the Paradise Classic, facing Pacific and Seattle in a doubleheader that saw everything from first-career home runs to gutsy pitching performances. The day began on a high note for the Hawks, as Brooklyn Morris wasted no time announcing her arrival. In the very first inning of the opener against Pacific, Morris launched her first career home run, a solo shot that put UND on the board and set the tone for a tightly contested matchup.

"It felt amazing to get that first one out of the way," said Morris after the game, her smile as bright as the Hawaiian sun. The momentum continued in the second inning when Hailey Bethune capitalized on a Pacific throwing error, crossing the plate to push the lead to 2-0. Unity Nelson took command in the circle, working 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs, and notching four strikeouts. But when Pacific rallied to tie the game in the fifth, head coach Jordan Stevens turned to Tehya Armstrong for relief. Armstrong delivered under pressure, entering with a runner on second and the score knotted at 2-2. She slammed the door, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit and throwing a mere 23 pitches.

North Dakota reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Katelyn Neumayer, who led the Hawks at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance, doubled to spark the rally. Taya Hopfauf singled, putting runners at the corners, and Bethune delivered again—this time with a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Neumayer to score what proved to be the winning run. Armstrong was lights out the rest of the way, facing just seven batters over her 2.1 innings of work, and sealing a 3-2 victory. Seven different Hawks recorded hits as UND celebrated its first 1-0 start since 2019.

The second act of the doubleheader proved tougher for North Dakota. Facing Seattle, the Hawks sent newcomer Tegan Livesay to the mound for her UND debut. Nerves may have played a part, as Livesay was tagged for five runs on four hits in the first inning. To her credit, she settled in, tossing a complete game and allowing no runs and just three hits over the final five frames, while striking out five. Unfortunately, the early deficit was too much to overcome. Bethune continued her productive day with an RBI in the fourth, and Annabeth Carlberg added a bases-loaded walk, but Seattle held on for a 5-2 win. The Hawks left two runners stranded in the final three innings, unable to mount a late comeback.

Despite the split, North Dakota's opening day featured several positive takeaways: Morris's first career homer, Bethune hitting .500 with two RBIs, and Neumayer also going 3-for-6 over the two games. The team will look to build on this start with upcoming games against Seattle and tournament host Hawai'i.

Meanwhile, in Tampa, Illinois State's Redbirds soared to a 2-0 start at the USF-Rawlings Tournament, marking their first such opening since 2012. Senior Hannah Meshnick was the star of the show in the opener against Bethune-Cookman, not only pitching five strong innings with five strikeouts and just one run allowed, but also blasting her first career home run to drive in the game's first two runs. The Redbirds' offense was relentless, piling up 10 runs on the day. Five different ISU players recorded multiple hits, with Morgan Calhoun and Bella Atkinson leading the charge. Calhoun finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs, while Atkinson was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

The second game saw Illinois State face host South Florida. Sophomore Paige McLeod took the mound and delivered her 15th career complete game, scattering four hits and allowing just one run over seven innings. Atkinson was again the offensive catalyst, going 2-for-4 and driving in four runs, including a two-run homer—the third of her NCAA career—in the fifth inning. Calhoun and Julia Larson also contributed key hits as the Redbirds posted a 5-1 victory. The team now looks ahead to matchups against Kansas, No. 6 Florida, and Michigan as the tournament continues.

Illinois State's strong start has fans buzzing about the team's potential this year. "We just want to keep this momentum going," said Atkinson, whose bat has already proven to be a difference-maker. The blend of senior leadership and freshman contributions bodes well for the Redbirds as the season unfolds.

Further west, Utah State opened its season at the Aggie Classic in College Station, Texas, splitting a pair of games against Abilene Christian and No. 11 Texas A&M. The Aggies made a statement in their opener, crushing Abilene Christian 8-0 in a six-inning run-rule victory. Senior pitcher Emmalyn Brinka flirted with perfection, retiring the first 15 batters she faced and finishing with a complete game shutout and a career-high seven strikeouts. Kaylee Erickson was the offensive star, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Freshman Kate Vance also impressed in her collegiate debut, collecting two hits, a double, and two runs scored.

The second game was a different story, as Utah State ran into a buzzsaw against Texas A&M. Early defensive miscues put the Aggies in a hole, and the hosts capitalized with a three-run first inning and a grand slam in the fourth. Utah State managed just one run—a second-inning RBI double by Alex Bunton—and ultimately fell 9-1 in five innings. Four different pitchers saw action for USU, with freshman Jordyn Lish logging the longest stint in relief. The Aggies will get another shot at Abilene Christian as the tournament continues.

For all three programs, these opening games offered a glimpse at both the promise and the challenges ahead. North Dakota showed resilience and depth in the circle, Illinois State flexed its offensive muscle, and Utah State's pitching staff demonstrated both dominance and room for growth. As the tournaments roll on, fans can expect more fireworks, dramatic finishes, and emerging stars.

With the season just underway, the energy is palpable and the storylines are only beginning to unfold. Each team will look to capitalize on early lessons learned as they chase their postseason dreams.