RICHMOND, Ky. - The reigning Atlantic Sun Conference Gold Division champion Eastern Kentucky softball program announced its 2026 schedule Thursday afternoon.

The Colonels will open the season Feb. 6-8 in Clearwater, Florida, competing in the Leadoff Classic against Boston College, South Alabama, Penn State, North Carolina Central, and Pittsburgh.

EKU then travels internationally to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge from Feb. 11-14. The Colonels will face Southern Illinois, UTSA, and Long Beach State during the tournament.

Before returning home, EKU will close out its road trip at the GATA Challenge from Feb. 20-22 in Statesboro, Georgia. The Colonels will play five games during the event, facing Tennessee Tech once and both Rhode Island and Georgia Southern twice.

EKU returns to Richmond for its home-opening stretch, beginning with the Colonel Classic from Feb. 26-March 1. The Colonels will take on Bradley, Pittsburgh, SIUE, and St. Louis in a doubleheader.

The homestand continues March 5-8 as EKU hosts the EKU Invitational, welcoming Miami (Ohio), Delaware State, Northern Kentucky, and IU-Indy for a pair of matchups.

Following the homestand, the Colonels embark on a two-game road stretch, starting with a matchup at Western Kentucky on March 10. EKU will then travel to Middle Tennessee for a midweek contest on March 11.

ASUN Conference play opens at home as EKU hosts Austin Peay from March 14-15 and Bellarmine from March 21-22 at Gertrude Hood Field.

The Colonels will make their first conference road trip of the season March 28-29, traveling to Nashville, Tennessee, for a series against Lipscomb.

EKU returns home for a midweek matchup against Louisville on March 31 before heading back to league play with a series at Central Arkansas from April 3-4. A midweek contest at Kentucky follows on April 7.

The Colonels will then return to Richmond for a nine-game homestand, hosting North Alabama (April 11-12), Morehead State (April 15), Central Arkansas (April 18-19), and Marshall (April 21).

EKU will close the regular season on the road, traveling to Bellarmine for a conference series from April 25–26 before wrapping up league play at Austin Peay from May 1-2.

The 2026 ASUN Conference Softball Tournament will be held May 5-9 in Jacksonville, Florida.

EKU enters its 34th season under head coach Jane Worthington, who ranks 17th among active NCAA Division I head coaches with 946 career wins. 

The Colonels return 17 members from last season's squad, including all-conference performers Kennedy Drafton, Jaelin Haynes, and Jada McLeod.

EKU finished the 2025 campaign with a 38-16 overall record and a 17-5 mark in ASUN Conference play.

The full 2026 schedule, including times and locations, is available online.