TROY, Ala. – Middle Tennessee Softball opens the 2026 season in Troy, Ala. at the Trojan Classic. The Blue Raiders will play five games over the span of three days, with the first pitch of the season on Friday, Feb. 6 at 9:00 a.m. CT against North Alabama. Middle Tennessee will play the host Troy Trojans later that Friday at 2:30 p.m.; the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Middle Tennessee will take on Southern and Chattanooga on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 11:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. respectively and will face North Alabama again at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8 to conclude the weekend play. 

Blue Raider Notes 

• The Blue Raiders return 12 from the 2025 roster, including two Conference USA First Team All-Conference members, a Second Team All-Conference member and the 2025 CUSA Freshman of the Year. 

• Ansley Blevins and Jana Want were named to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team. 

• Head Coach Jeff Breeden is the winningest coach in MTSU softball history and enters the weekend three wins away from the milestone 300 career wins. 

• The 2025 team broke the Middle Tennessee single-season home run record with 64, blowing away the previous record of 44 set the year prior. The Blue Raiders look to continue that same success at the plate this season, returning over 70 percent of their home runs from last year. 

Lion Notes 

• The Lions enter the season picked seventh in the ASUN Preseason Poll after finishing 10-14 in conference play in 2025. 

• North Alabama returns 2025 Third Team All-ASUN selection in outfielder Laura Leigh Wheeler. 

• Infielder Briley Dover and pitchers Emily Simon and Alivia Wilkin were named to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference Team. 

Series History 

The Blue Raiders are 1-1 all-time against the Lions. Both games were played in 2024, Middle Tennessee winning the most recent matchup on March 3 in Murfreesboro. 

Trojan Notes 

• The Trojans enter the season picked ninth in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll after finishing 12-12 in conference play in 2025. 

• Troy returns All-Sun Belt Second Team outfielder McKinnon Howard, who led the Trojans in batting average last season. 

• The Trojans lost their team leader in slugging percentage, RBIs, doubles, triples, home runs, total bases, walks and hits in 2025 All-Sun Belt First Teamer Taylor McKinney. 

Series History 

The series with the Trojans is 34-20 in favor of Troy. The Blue Raiders fell in the most recent matchup with the Trojans in 2014. 

Jaguar Notes 

• The Jaguars enter the season picked third in the West Division in the SWAC Preseason Poll after finishing 13-11 in conference play in 2025. 

• Southern returns senior outfielder Asia George, who led the team in at bats, runs scored, hits, triples and total bases in 2025. 

Series History 

Saturday, Feb. 7 will mark the first time in history that the Blue Raiders and the Jaguars will ever face off. 

Moc Notes 

• The Mocs enter the season picked third in the SoCon Preseason Poll after finishing first place with a 15-5 conference play record in 2025. 

• Chattanooga returns utility 2025 SoCon All-Freshman Team member Lexi Cooley. 

• Pitcher Taylor Long was named to the Preseason First Team All-SoCon. 

• Head Coach Frank Reed was named 2025 SoCon Coach of the Year last season. 

Series History 

The series against the Mocs is 20-2 all-time in favor of Chattanooga. The Mocs topped the Blue Raiders in the most recent matchup in 2022. 

Keeping Up with the Blue Raiders     

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