Softball Heads to Mississippi State for Bulldog Invitational

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University Softball team enters its third week of the 2026 season this weekend at the Bulldog Invitational, hosted by Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss. The Bruins carry a 5–4 overall record into the weekend after posting a 2–2 mark at the Samford Tournament and a 3–2 showing at the Red and Black Showcase, highlighted by a Top-25 victory over No. 15 Georgia—the program's first-ever ranked SEC win. 

Belmont will open the weekend Friday, Feb. 20, with a matchup against Delaware State at 10 a.m. CT, followed by a contest against host Mississippi State at 12:30 p.m. CT. 

Live stats will be available on belmontbruins.com. All games against Mississippi State will be streamed on the SEC+ Network. 

What's Bruin 

• Belmont is 5–4 overall and coming off a 2–2 weekend at the Samford Tournament. 
• The Bruins went 3–2 during opening weekend at the Red and Black Showcase, highlighted by a Top-25 win over No. 15 Georgia. 
• Belmont is led by redshirt senior pitcher Maya Johnson, who has delivered back-to-back dominant weekends in the circle. Johnson tossed a perfect game against Missouri State, striking out 15 over 7.0 innings, before following with another complete-game performance against No. 15 Georgia, recording 12 strikeouts to secure Belmont's first ranked SEC victory. In wins against Samford and North Alabama, Johnson totaled 14.0 innings and 32 strikeouts. 
• Johnson earned Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week honors for the second consecutive week on Feb. 17. 
• The veteran was also named a preseason Second Team All-American by D1 Softball and Softball America, and tabbed the preseason No. 1 Mid-Major Player by D1 Softball. 
• Johnson finished the 2025 season with a 24–6 record, 366 strikeouts, and a 1.52 ERA, recording double-digit strikeouts in 24 appearances. 
• Belmont returns five All-MVC honorees from last season, including Johnson (First Team, Pitcher of the Year), Rylee Spindler (First Team, Freshman of the Year), Nicole Hughes and Maddy Balsiger (Second Team), and Brenna Blume (All-Defensive Team). 
• The Bruins were picked first in the 2026 MVC Preseason Poll and have been ranked No. 12, No. 8, and No. 14 through the season's first three weeks. Johnson and Hughes were named preseason First Team All-MVC selections, while Spindler, Balsiger, and Blume earned honorable mention recognition. 
• Sophomore Rylee Spindler has made an immediate impact, starting all nine games while batting .533 with 16 hits, five runs scored, seven RBI, two doubles, one triple, one home run, and two walks. 
• Belmont is coming off a historic 2025 campaign, finishing 41–16 overall and 20–7 in Missouri Valley Conference play while capturing the MVC Tournament Championship for the first time in program history. 
• The Bruins are led by head coach Laura Matthews, now in her sixth season at the helm. 

Against the Field 

• This weekend marks the first meeting between Belmont and Delaware State. 
• The Bruins are 1–2 all-time against Mississippi State, with their last victory coming Feb. 23, 2013, in Memphis, Tenn. 
• Belmont is 8–3 all-time against Samford and has won seven straight meetings, including a 5–0 victory on Feb. 13, 2026, in Birmingham, Ala. 

Follow Belmont Softball on social media — @BelmontSoftball on Twitter, @belmontsoftball on Instagram, and Belmont Bruins Softball on Facebook — for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official Belmont Bruins app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.