LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The 2026 season is slated to begin for the University of West Alabama Softball team this weekend at the Gulf Shores Invitational.
UWA will play two games on Friday and two games on Sunday. The Tigers will officially open up their season with matchups against Saint Leo and Spring Hill at 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. on Friday before concluding the weekend on Sunday with contests against Middle Georgia State and Florida Tech at 10:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
West Alabama enters the new season after a 30-19 campaign in 2025. The Tigers lost key players in Marissa Mitchell, Taylor Clegg, and Madison Wright in the offseason but return Eleanor De Block, Ann Marie Stanbridge, and Haley Shannon who will look to carry the load.Â
De Block is projected to accumulate the most innings this weekend as she's destined to serve as the Tigers' ace. In 2025, De Block put together a career year, registering a career-best 2.12 ERA along with a 10-6 record. The pitcher enters her senior year and is expected to be one of the best pitchers in the Region.Â
At the plate, Stanbridge will carry a heavy load. The First Baseman was named to the Preseason All-GSC team after hitting .309 with three Home Runs and 38 RBIs in 2025. With Mitchell and Clegg no longer on the roster, Stanbridge is projected to be West Alabama's best bat. As for Shannon, she's a staple in the top of UWA's order. Shannon's offensive game features an elite combination of contact and speed. The Outfielder hit .294 last season even while dealing with a shoulder injury. Shannon is injury free to begin the 2026 season and will look to get her junior year off to a fast start in Gulf Shores.
The Tigers' offense struggled at times in 2025 and will lean on Stanbridge and Shannon, along with transfers Trinity Brooks and Sha'Keria Washington and freshmen, Kayla Morris and Alexis Parson.
No. 20 Saint Leo will be one of the best teams at the Gulf Shores Invitational and will serve as a strong test for West Alabama to begin the season. The Lions are coming off a 40-14 campaign, making an appearance in the NCAA Super Regional. Saint Leo is strong at the plate and on the mound as they hit .334 at the plate as a team a year ago while registering a 2.44 Team ERA.Â
The Lions are returning a bulk of their team from last season, highlighted by Alexis Barber, Briana Neal, Sydney Cline, and Maddie Antioco who all hit well over .300 last year. On the mound, Tierney Hocquard, Chloe Hocquard, Haleigh Thomas, Bella DeJulio, and Julia Stachowicz are all back for Saint Leo.
Spring Hill was picked first in the SIAC Preseason Poll after winning the conference last year, accumulating a 31-23 overall record and a 18-4 SIAC record. Last season, the Badgers hit .269 with Rycca Hinton batting .350 along with 16 Home Runs and 46 RBIs. Spring Hill lost Hinton in the offseason and will now have to depend on other bats in their lineup. On the mound, the Badgers recorded a 3.20 ERA in 2025.
Middle Georgia State recorded a 40-10 overall record in 2025. The Knights accumulated a .318 batting average as a team last season and return their top hitter in Madison Cosgrove. Cosgrove led the team a year ago with a .438 batting average, seven Home Runs, and 54 RBIs. On the mound, the Knights recorded a 2.67 team ERA last season but head into the new year without their ace, Emily Proctor.
As for Florida Tech, they enter the 2026 season after a 29-22 campaign in 2025. As a team, Florida Tech hit .273 as a team and carried a 3.38 Team ERA. Sammy Murphy is the ace as she enters her sophomore campaign after putting together a 9-7 record in 2025 along with a team-best 3.06 ERA as a redshirt freshman. Offensively, Haley Rider returns after a stellar freshman campaign. In 2025, Rider led the team with a .378 batting average along with four Home Runs and 22 RBIs.
First pitch for UWA's matchup against Saint Leo is set for 1:15 p.m. on Friday while their contest against Spring Hill is set for 3:15 p.m. On Sunday, West Alabama is slated to play Middle Georgia State at 10:00 a.m. while their matchup against Florida Tech is set for 12:15 p.m.
