EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Softball will play 14 games against teams that were nationally ranked to end last season as well as the reigning Division I and Division II National Champions as the Bengals release the 2026 season schedule. LSUE opens the campaign on January 30 with a doubleheader at the Mardi Gras Invitational at the Youngsville Sports Complex.
The opening weekend tournament is the lone road dates for the Bengals until March 4 with LSUE enjoying a 24-game homestand through the month of February. The Bengals entertain four nationally ranked squads from a year ago during that stretch – matching up with No. 9 Kirkwood for a four-game series on February 7-8, No. 17 Pearl River in a single game on February 14, and a March 1 doubleheader against No. 7 Jones.
LSUE opens that stretch on February 4 against Bishop State, followed by contests against San Jacinto (February 6), Jefferson College (February 14-15), National Park (February 21-22), Bossier Parish (February 21-22), Alvin (February 23), and Northeast Texas (February 28). Other home dates include Angelina (April 4), Southwest Mississippi (April 10) and Baton Rouge (April 15).
The road slate begins with the season opening Mardi Gras Invitational featuring games against Coastal Alabama, No. 22 Arkansas Rich Mountain, defending Division I champions Northwest Florida, and Lamar State. Following their long homestand, LSUE embarks on a 18-game road swing beginning with defending Division II champions Copiah-Lincoln on March 4.
Other road dates include East Central (March 5), Kilgore (March 11), Angelina (March 12), Mississippi Gulf Coast (March 16), Galveston (March 20), Blinn (March 27-28), Bossier Parish (April 3), Division I No. 23 Tyler (April 18), Division I No. 8 Trinity Valley (April 19), and Baton Rouge (April 21).
The Bengals start their seventh season under the direction of head coach Meghan Collins. LSUE welcomes back five everyday starters from last year's team, led by All-American
Payton Prince (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS). The McNeese State signee led the Bengals in home runs (13), RBIs (44), and runs scored (52) during her freshman season. LSUE also returns
Makinzey Elisar (Prairieville, LA, St. Amant HS),
Ciara Orgeron (Stonewall, LA, North Desoto HS),
Jadyn Yesso (Houma, LA, Houma Christian HS), and
Makinley Harris (Denham Springs, LA, Denham Springs HS).
LSUE's pitching staff will be led by
Ava Kordish (Bayou Chicot, LA, Pine Prairie HS) after posting a 13-4 record with 2.78 earned run average last spring.
To follow LSU Eunice Softball all season long, visit www.lsuebengals.net or follow the team on social media on X or Facebook at LSUEBengalsSB.
