UTICA, NY - Fresh off of its second consecutive Empire 8 Tournament semifinal appearance, and second consecutive 20+ win season, the Utica University softball team is back in action with a season-opening 10 game slate in the Sunshine State. The team will kick off the 2026 season with a matchup against Lasell University beginning at 10am on Sunday, March 8 from the Legends Way Ballpark in Clermont, FL. 
 
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video for all 10 of the team's Florida matchups can be found here. 
 
Run it Back:The Pioneers finished the season 24–12 overall and 17–5 in conference play, securing their third consecutive winning season, and second consecutive season with 20 or more wins. Utica's high powered offense was one for the record books, posting some of the highest numbers in program history. A combined team batting average of .346 marked the third highest in program history, just shy of the .355 mark set back in 2013. The Pioneers generated the third most hits in program history with a total of 360, leading to the highest on-base percentage of .413 since the program's inception. Utica also managed the second most runs scored with a total of 252, with a second most in program history 227 being batted in. The Pioneers came within one win of reaching the Empire 8 Championship series, battling their way through the losers bracket after an early setback against eventual Empire 8 Champion Alfred University. Despite the team's fight and key contributions from All–Empire 8 standouts like Brooke Beleza (Amherstview, Ontario/Jefferson Community College) and Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs), Utica's run ended with a 9–1 loss in five innings to St. John Fisher in the consolation bracket final. Still, the 2025 season showcased the Pioneers powerful offense and reliable pitching, highlighting another strong year in the Empire 8. Six standouts found themselves on All-Empire 8 teams, with a pair of first team selections in back to back seasons, as well as All-Region III and All-ECAC selections that rounded out another successful season of Pioneer softball. 
 
Schedule Breakdown: The Pioneers' regular season will run from March 8th, 2026, to April 25th, 2026. The Pioneers will play 36 regular-season games, 10 of which will be non-conference games taking place in Florida this upcoming week. When the Pioneers return, they will only have a pair of non-conference doubleheaders on the road against RPI and Hamilton. For the remainder of the season, the Pioneers will play against all Empire 8 conference opponents, starting on March 28th when the Pioneers will hit the road to take on a gauntlet of Empire 8 opponents in Hartwick, Elmira, and Keuka. The orange and blue won't return home until April 10th, where they will play the first home game of their 2026 campaign, welcoming Brockport to Greenman Field in the team's home opener. The Pioneers will then play SUNY Geneseo and Russell Sage before returning to the road to take on Alfred, Houghton, and SUNY Poly. After another six-game road stretch, the Pioneers return home to close out the season against Nazareth and St. John Fisher in the regular season finale on April 25th. If qualified, The Pioneers will then turn their attention to postseason action, with the Empire 8 Conference tournament slated to begin May 5 and run through May 11. 
 
At the Helm: Head Coach Rinae Olsen will be returning for her fourth season as the Pioneers' skipper after leading the team to another successful campaign. In search of the team's fourth consecutive winning season, Olsen has added former Bryant College softball standout Meaghan Houk to her right hand this season. Also returning to the Pioneer staff this season are assistant coach Megan White, pitching coach Kari Beane, and volunteer assistant Jessica Scott. 
 
Key Losses: The Pioneers enter this season without several statement pieces in the lineup, headlined by last season's standouts Brooke Beleza (Amherstview, Ontario/Jefferson Community College) and Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester). Beleza racked up the accolades last season with a First Team All-Conference nod, a selection to the NFCA All-Region III First Team, and an All-ECAC selection after ranking among the top hitters in the conference with a staggering .492 batting average, starting all 35 games last season. The shortstop racked up 60 hits in 122 at-bats, scoring 41 runs and driving in 30 RBIs. Her offensive output included nine doubles, two home runs, and 75 total bases, resulting in a .615 slugging percentage and an impressive .541 on-base percentage. Not just a threat at the plate, Beleza also proved reliable defensively, recording 60 putouts and 70 assists in the field with a .956 fielding percentage, helping anchor the infield for the Pioneers. As Utica's ace, Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) posted a 10-7 record over 20 appearances and 17 starts, leading the team in innings pitched with 103.1. She tossed 12 complete games and one shutout while striking out 56 batters and limiting opponents to a .313 batting average. Her consistency and durability helped the Pioneers to a 24-12 overall record, including a strong 17-5 mark in conference play. In addition to her pitching success, Murray was a key contributor at the plate. She hit .313 over 29 games, with 26 hits in 83 at-bats, including eight doubles. She drove in 16 runs, scored 15 times, and maintained a .410 slugging percentage and a .372 on-base percentage last season. The Pioneers are also without catcher Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie), who started in 34 games this season and delivered a strong offensive year, batting .330 with 38 hits in 115 at-bats. She drove in a team-high 39 RBIs, scored 20 runs, and added three doubles and four home runs, contributing to her .461 slugging percentage. With 12 walks and a .388 on-base percentage, Sacks provided steady production in the heart of the lineup. Defensively, Sacks was one of the premier catchers in the conference. She posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 89 putouts and 9 assists, committing no errors all season. She also helped control the running game, throwing out three of 17 attempted base stealers and allowing just two passed balls across the entire year.
 
Sophomore Sluggers: Sophomores Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks) will be returning this season to build off their breakout rookie campaigns. Last season, Paul capped her freshman campaign with a second-team All-Conference nod in the outfield. Starting all 36 games, Paul posted a strong .333 batting average, collecting 42 hits in 126 at-bats. She scored 37 runs, the second-most on the team, while driving in 28 RBIs. Paul displayed impressive pop at the plate, leading the Pioneers with five home runs and totaling 71 bases for a .563 slugging percentage. Her speed and versatility were also on display with a team-high three triples and eight doubles. Her patience at the plate and ability to reach base consistently were key to her success, as she drew 13 walks, was hit by a pitch once, and recorded a .400 on-base percentage. Defensively, Paul added value with 54 putouts, committing just three errors for a .948 fielding percentage. Scott put together a breakout freshman campaign at first base, managing a total of 23 hits with three doubles. Scott was patient at the plate, drawing a team leading 17 walks last season, leading to a .364 on base percentage. Scott crossed the plate 22 times, driving in 12 runs.  
 
Pioneer Pitching Production: A trio of Pioneers have returned from last season's pitching staff in Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston), Caroline Porter (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango), and Emily Lehane (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey).The team's lone senior, pitcher Habernig, capped her junior campaign with a 4-1 record through seven starts, with a pair of complete games, and 10 appearances and a 6.03 ERA through 33.2 innings pitched. Habernig delivered when called upon, posting a total of 24 strikeouts, including a season-high seven against SUNY Poly at the tail end of last season. Sophomore Porter appeared in the circle eight times last season, posting a 2-0 record through 15.2 innings pitched, with a 6.70 ERA. Porter, despite seeing limited innings, allowed the lowest batting average to opponents out of the returning pitchers last season at .299. Delivering 16 strikeouts on the season, Porter posted her season-high of five at the beginning of last season against St. Catherine, before matching that total in the team's final regular season series against Keuka. Dual–threat Lehane finished her freshman campaign with a 1-1 record through six appearances in the circle, as well as registering 15 hits with 13 RBIs.
 
Fresh Faces: Head Coach Olsen has welcomed 10 new faces to the program this season. A pair of sophomores in Ava Hayes (Sauquoit, NY/Notre Dame) and Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls), with Hayes donning the orange and blue after a freshman stint at SUNY Canton, and Durfey making her softball debut after spending two seasons as a member of the Utica Field Hockey team. Eight freshmen are set to make their Pioneer debuts this week: Madeline Wadell, Kadyn Hartel (West Henrietta, NY/Rush Henrietta), Kari Graziano (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane), Eden Resch (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater), Alexa Thompson (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), Candice Daigle (Lebanon, ME/Massabesic), Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls), and Lila Gray (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill). Coach Olsen will look to these freshmen to make an immediate impact. 
 
Sunshine State Slate: The team will open its season on March 8th with a double header against Lasell University at 10:00am and Suffolk University at 12:15pm. On Monday, March 9th the team will take on Haverford College at 1:30pm followed by North Central College at 3:45pm. Tuesday, March 10th, the team will take on University of Mount Union at 10:00am followed by Hiram College at 12:15pm. Following an off day, the team returns to action on Thursday, March 12th to take on Swarthmore College at 9am followed by North Park University at 11:30am. The trip concludes with a doubleheader against Westminster College (PA) at 1:45pm and Western New England University at 4pm on Friday, March 13th.  
 
Up Next: Following the Florida slate, the Pioneers return to action on Saturday, March 21 as the team travels to Troy, NY for a non-conference doubleheader against RPI. First pitch of game one is set for 1pm.