
NCAA Division I softball's opening weekend was one for the history books. From perfect games to offensive outbursts to remarkable upsets, it had a little bit of everything softball fans were looking forward to.
Every Monday throughout the season, Softball On SI will publish a weekly trender report. Here is who is hot, heating up, cooling and ice cold to start the 2026 season.
The UCLA Bruins are off to a perfect start and were quite home run happy in Westwood. UCLA outscored their opponents 68-6 and hit 23 home runs with Jordan Woolery and Megan Grant with five each.
Bmbs away! #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/VyV2TXpZMR
— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) February 9, 2026
Despite being without their ace Jocelyn Briski for most of the weekend, the Alabama Crimson Tide rolled to an undefeated start and outscored its opponents 51-6.
Brooke Wells, a transfer from Houston, led the team with a .583 average (7-for-12), six walks, and a .22 on-base percentage. Alexis Pupillo drove in 11 runs and the team combined to hit 18 homers.
In the circle, freshman Vic Moten started three games and went 3-0, allowing seven hits and striking out 19 over 15.0 innings.
A record-setting opening weekend in Atlanta#Team30 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/4RW3hui8le
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) February 8, 2026
The senior left-handed pitcher couldn't have pitched better to open her final season with the Belmont Bruins. She pitched a perfect game against Missouri State to open the 2026 slate and then led the Bruins to a 2-1 win over No. 15 Georgia. She struck out 12 Bulldogs in the upset.
THAT WINNING FEELING#ItsBruinTime pic.twitter.com/VRwtMXJoIV
— Belmont Softball (@BelmontSoftball) February 8, 2026
Mia Williams is off to a red-hot start in her first season with Texas Tech. She led the Red Raiders with 11 hits, 12 runs scored, 13 RBIs, six doubles, three home runs, and four free passes. She has a team-high .688 batting average, 1.625 slugging percentage, and .714 on-base percentage.
Texas Tech outscored its competition 64-9 and took down No. 14 Texas A&M, 3-2, in College Station.
Did anyone have a better opening weekend than Mia?
— Texas Tech Softball (@TexasTechSB) February 8, 2026
3 HR, 1.000 FLD %, 1.625 SLG%, the list goes on pic.twitter.com/sx0TrPuDc6
Sydney Potter transferred from Creighton and has immediately impacted the SIU offense. The junior hit five home runs, one in each game.
The Salukis go deep TWICE in a 5⃣ run 3rd inning!
— Saluki Softball (@SIU_Softball) February 8, 2026
Potter hits her fifth () of the year while Coburn hits her first to give SIU a 7-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/XlbsdrxDfG
The Michigan State Spartans are off to their best start since 1997 and put an exclamation point on the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday with a 5-2 victory over No. 9 Clemson. The other three wins were against BYU, Longwood, and Pitt.
Spartans showed UP for the opening weekend.#FinishtheFight #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/RbZyKF48Ii
— Michigan State Softball (@MSU_Softball) February 8, 2026
Head coach Mike Larabee has returned to work full-time, and the FIU Panthers are off to a 6-0 start. J'dah Girigorie appeared in four games, earning two wins and two saves. She held opponents to one earned run on eight hits and struck out 16 in 16.0 innings.
highlights from today's win
— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 8, 2026
presented by @Nicklaus4Kids pic.twitter.com/5Lzs5qsjZ8
Southeastern Louisiana captured the softball world's attention during Super Regionals last year when they eliminated the LSU Tigers in the Baton Rouge Regional. They haven't let off the gas and took down No. 5 Oregon, 4-2, to cap off their stay at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
The win over the Tigers marked he highest-ranked opponent SLU has defeated in program history.
TOP 5️⃣ WIN FOR @LionUpSoftball #NCAASoftball x MLB Network / @SouthlandSportspic.twitter.com/fTxIAE8UTA
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) February 8, 2026
Jalen Adams introduced herself to the Arizona faithful with a no-hitter in her debut, and then she picked up a win over No. 3 Oklahoma on Friday.
The Iowa transfer appeared in four games over the weekend and went 2-1 with a 2.72 ERA.
The 99th no-hitter in program history.
— Arizona Softball (@ArizonaSoftball) February 5, 2026
The first Wildcat to throw a solo no-hitter in her debut.
Welcome to Tucson, @jalenmarieadams! pic.twitter.com/PZH9keZSpz
Fresh off of a trip to the women's College World Series appearance, the Oregon Ducks dropped three of five at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
The Ducks beat Missouri and Liberty but dropped close contests to No. 9 Clemson, No. 4 Tennessee, and Southeastern Louisiana.
The Liberty Flames appeared in the Eugene Super Regional last year and graduated a handful talent. That showed in Clearwater as they struggled to get anything going in the right direction, The Flames lost No. 4 Tennessee, No. 9 Clemson, No. 5 Oregon, Missouri and Notre Dame.
After making the WCWS for the first time in program history last year, the Ole Miss Rebels split with Cal State Fullerton and dropped another contest to Boise State. They won both contests against Cal State Northridge.
It's hard to judge the Rebels after campus was hit with an insane ice storm and the Rebels weren't able to practice for almost two weeks.
The defending America East champs tests themselves with five contests against Power 4 opponents to open the season and managed to win the season opener over Syracuse, 5-1.
However, they lost to the Orange, 4-3, and dropped two games to No. 24 Virginia Tech. The Bearcats closed out their trip to South Carolina with a 9-1 loss to the No. 16 Gamecocks.
Cal State Bakersfield had a rough first six games of the season at the UCF Black & Gold Classic. The Roadrunners were outscored 48-11.
Illinois lost two games to Lamar, one to Nevada, one NC State and one to No. 12 LSU.
UConn had to pivot last minute after their original schedule was canceled due to inclement. Instead of playing at Elon, the Huskies went to Florida State and lost all four games.
Stonehill, which is in its fourth year as a DI program, was outscored 46-3 in five games at the FAU Paradise Classic. The Skyhawks were shutout in four contests and only scored against Delaware.
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