BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Tarleton State Softball is set to open their season on the road this weekend at the Runnin' Bulldog Classic in North Carolina, kicking off the first of their six-weekend tournament stretch.
Action will begin on Friday as Tarleton State takes on two teams in their season opener. The Texans will start out the day with a 9 a.m. CT first pitch against Youngstown State, marking the first meeting between the two teams.
They will then take on the Furman Paladins at 11:30 a.m. CT to close out their opening day. In their last matchup, their only meeting, Tarleton State defeated the Paladins 10-3 in the 2022 Furman Invitational. Furman finished their 2025 season with a record of 15-38, while Youngstown State closed out the season 14-39.
The Purple and White will face off against Furman in their second Runnin' Bulldog meeting on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. CT, followed by a matchup with tournament host Gardner-Webb at 4:30 p.m. CT. This also marks their first program matchup against the Runnin' Bulldogs, who finished last season 23-29 and 5-13 in conference play.
The Texans will wrap up the tournament on Sunday with a 9 a.m. CT start against Youngstown State before returning home to host back-to-back tournament weekends.
Tarleton State Softball enters the year with high hopes coming off of their best season in the NCAA Division I era. Coming off of a trip to the WAC Tournament championship game, Tarleton State Softball was voted to finish first in the WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, while standout pitcher Shelby Schultz picked up three individual awards, including Preseason Co-Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year.
For the first time in program history, Tarleton State was ranked No. 1 in the WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Texans received four first place votes, ranking five points ahead of California Baptist.
Last season, the Texans made their first appearance in the WAC title game. The Purple and White amassed a D1 era high of 36 wins and earned the second seed in the WAC Tournament. This marked the third season in the D1 era that the Texans earned at least 30 wins. The Texans return 14 of their 27-woman roster for the 2026 season.
In the circle, the Texans are returning their ace, Schultz, Sadie Beck, who went 2-1 last year in 15 appearances and four starts, and Gracie Riney, who posted a 2.92 ERA in nine appearances. Schultz last year, as a freshman, appeared in 33 games while starting 21. She finished the season nationally ranked 13th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.81), 21st in strikeouts per seven innings (8.4), and 30th in overall strikeouts (173), while leading the WAC in all three categories.
Top hitters returning for the Texans are Haley Hughes (.313) and Hayden Fox (.300), Jaelynn Duke (eight home runs), and Casey Schultz (four home runs).
Sunday's game will be the only game streamed on ESPN+ this weekend. For the latest news on the Texans, follow Tarleton Softball on Facebook, Instagram and X.
