Friday, February 6
Lafayette, La.
1 PM
Jacksonville State University
vs
Tulsa
Softball Opens Season at Louisiana Classic
2/5/2026 11:23:00 AM | Softball
Jax State hits the road for five games in Lafayette, La. to open the 2026 season, staring tomorrow with games against Tulsa and Louisiana.
The Gamecocks are taking part in the 40th Annual Louisiana Classic, playing five games over the weekend. Jax State will face North Texas and Louisiana on Saturday and Tulsa on Sunday before heading home.
Coach Julie Boland helped Jax State reach the Conference USA Championship in her first season at the helm of the program and finished with a 37-21 overall record.
A good chunk of the offense returns with eight players that started 56 or more games back on campus. This includes All-Conference USA and NFCA All-Region selection Emma Elrod who hit .383 with 15 homers, 17 doubles, and 33 RBIs. The junior also stole 16 bases and posted a .407 average against conference opponents.
Senior Jaliyah Holmes is the most experienced pitcher returning, having logged 94 innings last season with a 9-6 record and 2.53 ERA. Holmes struck out 82 and walked just 29 in 24 appearances.
Tulsa was 21-33 a year ago. Senior infielder Maci Cole is back after an all-conference season that saw her hit a team-best .316 with 10 home runs, nine doubles, a pair of triples, and 27 RBIs.
Louisiana was 29-25 last season and reached the Sun Belt semifinals. Reigning SBC Freshman of the Year Emily Smith is back after ranking in the top 10 in OPS, home runs, and RBIs in conference play after hitting .362 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs.
The Mean Green of North Texas posted a 36-21 record in 2025 and were one run away from winning the American Athletic Conference Championship. New head coach Cody White has 10 letter winners back from that squad that will face No. 2 Texas Tech and McNeese on Friday before taking on the Gamecocks. Catcher Elizabeth Moffitt had 52 hits and 42 runs scored last season and All-AAC selection Madison Conley is back after hitting 10 home runs a year ago.
The Gamecocks will play their first 10 games away from Jana McGinnis Field before hosting Chattanooga on Wednesday, February 18th.
The Gamecocks are taking part in the 40th Annual Louisiana Classic, playing five games over the weekend. Jax State will face North Texas and Louisiana on Saturday and Tulsa on Sunday before heading home.
Coach Julie Boland helped Jax State reach the Conference USA Championship in her first season at the helm of the program and finished with a 37-21 overall record.
A good chunk of the offense returns with eight players that started 56 or more games back on campus. This includes All-Conference USA and NFCA All-Region selection Emma Elrod who hit .383 with 15 homers, 17 doubles, and 33 RBIs. The junior also stole 16 bases and posted a .407 average against conference opponents.
Senior Jaliyah Holmes is the most experienced pitcher returning, having logged 94 innings last season with a 9-6 record and 2.53 ERA. Holmes struck out 82 and walked just 29 in 24 appearances.
Tulsa was 21-33 a year ago. Senior infielder Maci Cole is back after an all-conference season that saw her hit a team-best .316 with 10 home runs, nine doubles, a pair of triples, and 27 RBIs.
Louisiana was 29-25 last season and reached the Sun Belt semifinals. Reigning SBC Freshman of the Year Emily Smith is back after ranking in the top 10 in OPS, home runs, and RBIs in conference play after hitting .362 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs.
The Mean Green of North Texas posted a 36-21 record in 2025 and were one run away from winning the American Athletic Conference Championship. New head coach Cody White has 10 letter winners back from that squad that will face No. 2 Texas Tech and McNeese on Friday before taking on the Gamecocks. Catcher Elizabeth Moffitt had 52 hits and 42 runs scored last season and All-AAC selection Madison Conley is back after hitting 10 home runs a year ago.
The Gamecocks will play their first 10 games away from Jana McGinnis Field before hosting Chattanooga on Wednesday, February 18th.
Players Mentioned
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Saturday, March 14
Wednesday, March 11
Thursday, February 19
