SPARTANBURG, S.C. - As the year is nearing its end, a new season is preparing to be displayed with a core of returners from the 2025 Big South Championship team mixed with newcomers who are expected to make an immediate impact in the 2026 season. Returning to the helm with 1136 wins, Head Coach Chris Hawkins will enter his 32^nd season as the Upstate Softball Head Coach. Also returning to the coaching staff will be an all-star staff of assistant coaches Bryan Pack, Tonya Medders and John Winters who help keep the engine running for the program with their development of players through the program. The season is scheduled to open on the Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium on Friday, February 6th, hosting the Founders Classic.
 
The 2026 non-conference schedule begins with the opening weekend for the Founders Classic on February 6^th through February 8^th with the Spartans seeing action through six games against Saint Francis, Towson, and Ohio University. The following two tournaments will also be held in Hub City on Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium with the Wings Etc. Classic hosting West Georgia and Youngstown State on February 13^th and 14^th. Upstate will co-host the Upstate Classic on February 20^th through the 22^nd taking on Holy Cross, Harvard, Robert Morris, and Morgan State. Wrapping tournament play at home, Upstate will travel across town facing Wofford College for their first road matchup on Tuesday, February 24^th at 6:00 P.M. The following day, Upstate hosts So-Con opponent, Furman University for a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader with game one beginning at 3:00 P.M. and game two following at 5:00 P.M.
 
Rounding out the opening month of play, Upstate will travel to Auburn, Alabama for a three-day tournament where they are slated to play up to four to five games through February 27^th through March 1^st; opponents for the Auburn Tournament will be announced at a later date from the program. The wheels on the bus will continue to roll as the Spartans travel to Clearwater, Florida for a tournament in the Sunshine State taking place from March 6-8; opponents are scheduled to be announced at a late date. The road trip from Florida to South Carolina will be wrapped up with a doubleheader at the College of Charleston on Wednesday, March 11^th with game one beginning at 3:00 P.M. and game two following at 5:00 P.M. The final test before Big South action will take place with a round two matchup against Furman on Tuesday, March 17th, this time taking place on the road in Greenville, South Carolina at 3:00 and 5:00 P.M.
 
Entering conference play, the Spartans host Radford University for a three-game weekend series with Friday, March 20^th being one game at 4:00 P.M. and Saturday, March 21^st being an afternoon doubleheader at 1:00 & 3:00 P.M. Following the weekend series, Upstate travels to Cullowhee, North Carolina for a non-conference doubleheader at Western Carolina on Tuesday, March 24 at 3:00 & 5:00 P.M. Going into the weekend, Upstate Softball continues road play returning to Big South action with a Saturday and Sunday weekend series against Longwood University. Saturday's game will begin at 5:00 P.M. followed by Sunday's doubleheader beginning at 1:00 & 3:00 P.M. Ending the month, East Tennessee State will make their way to Hub City by taking on the Spartans for an afternoon showdown on Tuesday, March 31^st beginning at 2:00 & 4:00 P.M.
The last month of regular season play will intensify with the Spartans staying at home returning to Big South play for a weekend series with Gardner-Webb University with Friday doubleheader action at 3:00 & 5:00 P.M. followed by one game on Saturday, April 4^th at 1:00 P.M. Upstate will make their way to the Peach State for a midweek game against SEC Opponent, University of Georgia on Wednesday, April 8th at 6:00 P.M. which will prove to be a perfect test for the program as the previous year saw the game go to nine innings. Going into the weekend, the 2024 & 2025 Big South Softball Championship rematch will take place in Rock Hill, South Carolina as the Spartans travel to Winthrop opening the weekend series Friday, April 10^th at 4:00 P.M. The series will continue with an April 11^th at 2:00 & 4:00 P.M.
 
Moving away from conference play, Upstate will host crosstown rival, Wofford College for the second time of the 2026 campaign on Wednesday, April 15^th at 6:00 P.M. Non-conference play will continue as Upstate welcomes South Carolina State for a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader at 3:00 & 5:00 P.M. on April 22nd.Rounding out regular season action, Upstate travels to Charleston, South Carolina for their final road conference series at Charleston Southern. The weekend series opens with Friday evening action at 4:00 P.M. on April 24^th and the series continues with a doubleheader, Saturday, April 25^th at 1:00 & 3:00 P.M.

The final home series will take place with a new month of opportunity as the Spartans hosts Presbyterian College with doubleheader action opening Friday, May 1^st at 3:00 & 5:00 P.M. The series will wrap up regular season play with one game on Saturday, May 2^nd at 1:00 P.M. The following week, the Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium will see more action as USC Upstate will be the host of the Big South Softball Championships taking place from May 6-9^th which will field a total of five teams from the conference with Upstate Softball looking to be one of the teams in the tournament to defend t