CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team kicks off a new season this weekend as the Colonels head to Clearwater, Florida, to compete in the NFCA Leadoff Classic from Feb. 6–8.
The Colonels will face five opponents over the three-day tournament, opening Friday, Feb. 6, against Boston College at 10 a.m. ET before squaring off with South Alabama at 1 p.m.
Boston College brings in new head coach Beth Krysiak, who previously coached at Saint Francis, after the Eagles finished 22–29 last season.
South Alabama arrives after a 20–31 campaign, bringing back first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection Olivia Branstetter, who batted .320 with 40 hits, seven doubles, and 26 RBIs at third base. The Colonels hold a 2–0 all-time advantage over the Jaguars, including a 10–7 victory in 2024 in which
Kennedy Drafton went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored.
Saturday brings matchups with Penn State at 12 p.m. and North Carolina Central at 6 p.m.
The Nittany Lions enter after a 25–27 season with two players, Brooke Klosowicz and Bridget Nemeth, featured in the D1Softball D100 Preseason Rankings. Klosowicz is fresh off a historic 2025 campaign in which she set single-season program records for doubles and RBIs.
EKU holds a 2–0 series edge over North Carolina Central, including a 3–0 shutout in their last meeting in 2018. The Eagles finished 13–33 last season but return Preseason All-MEAC selection Simone Mack in the bullpen.
The weekend concludes Sunday with a 10 a.m. showdown against Pitt.
The Panthers finished 20–32 last season but went 3–2 at last year's NFCA Leadoff Classic and bring an infusion of talent with 13 freshmen, including six named to the ACC Freshman Watch List.
EKU enters the season with championship aspirations after earning the No. 2 ranking in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll. Drafton was also named to the Preseason All-ASUN Team following a standout 2025 campaign.
Drafton posted a .356 batting average with 52 hits, 10 doubles, and nine home runs while driving in 45 runs and scoring 52 times, the second-highest total in the ASUN.
The Colonels also welcome back sophomore infielder
Jada McLeod, a Third Team All-ASUN and ASUN All-Freshman Team honoree who tallied 35 hits, seven doubles, one triple, five home runs, and 27 RBIs.
The Colonels are coming off a Gold Division championship season, posting a 38–16 overall record and a 17–5 mark in ASUN play.
All games will be streamed on the GameChanger app and are free to the public, while every game will have play-by-play available via StatBroadcast.
For more information, visit Tournament Central.
