Lion Softball Unveils 2026 Schedule
The East Texas A&M University softball team has announced the full schedule for the 2026 season on Wednesday morning, which features 34 home games at the John Cain Family Softball Complex.
During the 2026 season, the Lions take on seven teams that played in the NCAA Tournament a year ago, highlighted by a matchup against National Champion Texas on March 11.
This is the first season that the Lions are eligible to compete in the NCAA Tournament in the Division I era.
The home slate for the Lions features three tournaments in non-conference play, 15 Southland Conference games, and a mid-week doubleheader against UT Arlington. Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased here.
The season begins with the East Texas A&M Leadoff on February 6-8 in Commerce. The Lions take on Bucknell and St. Bonaventure on February 6, followed by games against South Dakota State and St. Bonaventure on February 7. The weekend concludes with a game against Texas Southern on February 8.
The Lions are taking on Bucknell and St. Bonaventure for the first time, while facing South Dakota State and Texas Southern for the third year in a row. The full schedule of the East Texas A&M Leadoff can be found here.
The Lion Invitational on February 12-15 is next for the Lions. East Texas A&M begins the week against SEMO and Grambling on February 12, followed by a twin bill against Marist and Rhode Island on February 13. The Lions then play Jackson State on February 14 and Missouri State on February 15.
Marist and Jackson State played in the NCAA Tournament last season. The Lions are facing all six opponents during the Lion Invitational for the first time. The full schedule for the Lion Invitational can be found here.
The first road game of the season comes on February 18 in Denton at North Texas. The Lions and the Mean Green have played each other four times prior.
The Lions play their final weekend of home games in non-conference play as part of the Lion Classic on February 20-22. The weekend begins against SIUE and North Texas on February 20, then games against North Texas and St. Thomas on February 21, and then a twin bill against St. Thomas and Southern on February 22.
SIUE and the Lions are playing each other in Commerce for the third year in a row, while East Texas A&M plays St. Thomas and Southern for the first time. The full schedule of the Lion Classic can be found here.
The final weekend of non-conference play comes in California at the Judi Garman Classic, hosted by Cal State Fullerton. It is the first time the Lions are playing in California in the Division I era.
The first game in Fullerton, California, comes against Florida on February 26, followed by games against UCLA and Oregon State on February 27. The Lions then face Seattle on February 28 and close out the weekend against LMU and Cal on March 1.
Both Florida and UCLA advanced to the Women’s College World Series last season, while Cal also played in the NCAA Tournament. The Lions are taking on all six opponents for the first time.
The two remaining non-conference opponents are mid-week games in March and April. The Lions make the trip down to Austin to face Texas on March 11 for the first time and then host UT Arlington for a doubleheader on April 21. The Lions and the Mavericks are playing each other for the third year in a row.
The Southland Conference schedule for the Lions was released during the fall and remains unchanged. The Lions will face defending SLC Tournament Champion and NCAA Regional Finalist Southeastern on March 6-7, Lamar on March 20-21, SFA on April 10-11, HCU on April 17-18, and defending SLC Champion McNeese on April 24-25, at home.
During conference play, the Lions will host a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. on Fridays and the series finale at noon on Saturdays.
The road series in conference play come at A&M-Corpus Christi on March 13-14, Northwestern State on March 27-28, Nicholls on April 2-3, and at UIW on April 14-15.
For the second year in a row, the Southland Conference will use a two-week format for its conference tournament with eight teams split into two double-elimination four-team brackets on April 30-May 3 and then the championship series on May 7-9.
The NCAA Regionals begin on May 15 and the Women’s College World Series is set to begin on May 28 in Oklahoma City.
Lion fans can view the full schedule at LionAthletics.com