SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The wait is officially over as the back-to-back reigning Big South Champions opens the 2026 season as USC Upstate Softball hosts the Founders Classic presented by Founders Federal Credit Union beginning on Friday, February 6th through Sunday, February 8th on the Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium.
Overview
Upstate Softball welcomes Saint Francis, Towson and Ohio to the Founders Classic at the Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium, where each team also will open their season. Upstate returns 13 players from the Championship core followed by 11 newcomers including seven freshman and four transfers. Upstate rings in the new campaign after a 39-16 (10-8 Big South) 2025 season where the Spartans repeated as the Big South Tournament Champions and drew the number four seed at the NCAA Clemson Regional, where Upstate ended their season following a loss to the University of Kentucky. Head Coach, Chris Hawkins returns to the helm for his 32nd season at the helm followed by assistant coaches Bryan Pack, Tonya Medders and John Winters. Saint Francis comes off a similar historic 2025 season finishing at 26-26 (14-7 NEC) and won the Northeast Conference Championship and as a result drew the number four seed in the NCAA College Station Regional where their season ended was by Marist. Ohio enters the new season fresh off a 37-19 (18-8 MAC) 2025 season where their year ended at the MAC Tournament by Miami (OH). Ohio is also the lone team in the Founders Classic who has leads their all-time series against Upstate at 2-1. Lastly, Towson returns to the Hub City for opening weekend for the first time since Feb. 10, 2024, where the program was part of the opening weekend of the tournament formerly known as the Spartan Classic. Towson enters the tournament after a 23-29 (11-16 CAA) 2025 season with a four-game slate to open their new season.
This Weekend's Matchups
Feb. 6| Saint Francis| 3:00 P.M. EST*
Feb. 6| Towson| 5:30 P.M. EST*
Feb. 7| Ohio| 3:00 P.M. EST
Feb. 7| Saint Francis| 5:30 P.M. EST
Feb. 8| Saint Francis| 10:00 A.M. EST
Feb. 8| Ohio| 12:30 P.M. EST
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App (televised games noted with an *)
Location: All games are set to take place on Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium.
Players to Watch
Upstate: Senior Outfielder, Taliyah Thomas enters the year as the Big South Preseason Player of the Year and Preseason All-Conference Team after a historic Junior season. Thomas appeared in 52 games and started in 51 in the right field with a .373 batting average, 14 doubles, three triples, two HRs, 32 runs batted in, 57 runs scored, 32-for-34 on stolen bases and wrapped up the season with 177 at bats with 66 hits earning herself the Statistical Champion for toughest player to strikeout. Thomas was also named to first-team All-Big South and NFCA Third Team All-Region. Thomas returns for her senior season with the past season behind her and takes the season one game at a time to put her team in the best positions to win.
Saint Francis: Sophomore Utility Player, Sofia Zielinski returns to the Red Flash being ranked fourth on Saint Francis with a .271 batting average. Zielinski appeared and started in 52 games adding 38 hits, nine doubles, eight home runs and 35 runs batted in. With a .500 slugging percentage and .393 on base percentage, Zielinski will have five opportunities to showcase all the hard work and her prior experience to contribute to the Red Flash for opening weekend at the Founders Classic.
Towson: Senior Catcher, Grace Francyzk returns to Towson after being named All-CAA Second Team leading with 375 at bats and 54 hits while having a .375 batting average, 10 doubles, three triples and three home runs. Francyzk was ranked top-10 in the CAA with a .991 OPS, eighth in the batting average category, 10th in hits and fourth with 40 runs batted in. The Tigers will open the season at the Founders Classic with an afternoon showdown beginning with Ohio and end day one with ESPN+ action against Upstate where Francyzk will look to shine in both games.
Ohio: Junior Infielder, Brenna Farmer started in all 56 games for the Bobcats leading Ohio with a .392 batting average with 69 hits in 176 at-bats. Farmer also led with 16 doubles while smacking three home runs while scoring 25 runs and adding a .534 slugging percentage. Farmer led with 413 putouts while adding a .991 fielding percentage and seven double plays. As the Bobcats look to begin their new campaign against Saint Francis and Towson at the Founders Classic, Farmer will be a key player for Ohio throughout the Founders Classic.
Full Tournament Schedule
(!) February 6| Ohio vs. St. Francis| 10:00 A.M. EST
(!) February 6| Ohio vs. Towson| 12:30 P.M. EST
February 6| St. Francis vs. Upstate| 3:00 P.M. EST
February 6| Towson vs. Upstate| 5:30 P.M. EST
(!) February 7| Ohio vs. Towson| 10:00 A.M. EST
(!) February 7| St. Francis vs. Towson| 12:30 P.M. EST
(!) February 7| Ohio vs. Upstate| 3:00 P.M. EST
(!) February 7| St. Francis vs. Upstate| 5:30 P.M. EST
(!) February 8| St. Francis vs. Upstate| 10:00 A.M. EST
(!) February 8| Ohio vs. Upstate| 12:30 P.M. EST
(!) Live stats Only
LiveStats will be available for all games and a recap following the day's action can be found at upstatespartans.com.
*Bold team indicates the home team for each game scheduled through the Founders Classic.
Up next for the Spartans
Following a six-game slate at the Founders Classic, Upstate Softball returns to the Hawkins Field at Cyrill Stadium hosting the Wings Etc. Classic on February 13-14 welcoming Youngstown State and West Georgia. Game times for the Spartans are scheduled for 1:30 & 4:00 P.M. on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14.
Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @UpstateSoftball @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
INVEST IN CHAMPIONS - Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!
Ingles I-26 Rivalry Food Drive: Support Miracle Hill Ministries in Spartanburg by donating to the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series Food Drive through Saturday, February 14. All donations stay local, and donors may scan the QR code on donation bins for a free ticket to an upcoming Upstate basketball game. For donation locations and more information, click here.
