MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris softball team begins its 2026 season with four games at the Mankato Dome.
 
The Cougars open action on Saturday against St. Catherine University at 6 p.m., followed by Gustavus Adolphus College at 8:30 p.m. On Sunday, Minnesota Morris starts the day with a 10:30 a.m. contest against Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, then faces Hamline University at 3:30 p.m.
 
Games can be watched by clicking here. And live stats of UMM vs GAC can be found here and the other three games' live stats can be found here.
 
Last season, the Cougars went 16-24 overall and 9-9 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. Head Coach Heather Pennie-Roy enters her 28th season with the program. In the UMAC Preseason Coaches Poll, UMM was selected fourth. Minnesota Morris returns UMAC All-Conference First Team student-athlete Alyssa Thornton and UMAC All-Defensive Team outfielder Olivia Losee. Thornton led the UMAC with a .409 batting average in 2025 and posted a 3.53 ERA. Losee recorded 67 putouts and two assists while holding a .972 fielding percentage.
 
St. Catherine opened the season 1-1, falling to Central College, 5-3, before defeating Nebraska Wesleyan University, 8-7, in eight innings. Colleen Powers is in her 12th season as head coach of the Wildcats. Early in the season, Mayci Larson leads the team with a .500 batting average, and Alexa Carlstrom has pitched three innings with a 0.00 ERA.
 
Gustavus started the season 1-3, with its win coming against the University of Northwestern – St. Paul, 5-3. Emma Frost enters her first season as head coach of the program. Through four games, Hailey Petzel has a team-high .429 batting average and a 1.072 OPS. Ava Hamsund holds a 1-1 record with a 2.92 ERA.
 
Saint Mary's is undefeated to start the season at 4-0. Most recently, the Cardinals defeated Bethany Lutheran College, 4-0, and the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, 10-5. Head Coach John Tschida is in his 11th season with the Cardinals. Peyson Berg leads the team with a .500 batting average, one home run, and one double. Kanzie Gatz has not allowed a run in 11 innings of work and has recorded 13 strikeouts.
 
Hamline is 0-2 to open the season, falling to Nebraska Wesleyan and Bethany Lutheran, 6-2. Jim Rubbelke is in his 19th season as head coach of the Pipers. Brennan Reid leads the team with a .400 batting average and one extra-base hit. Natalee Boelk has pitched four innings with a 1.75 ERA and two strikeouts.