NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University Softball team opens its first home weekend of the 2026 season this weekend at E.S. Rose Park, hosting Central Michigan, Southern Indiana, and Ohio. The Bruins enter the weekend 8–5 overall and are coming off a 3–1 showing at the Bulldog Invitational, highlighted by another top-25 SEC victory over No. 18 Mississippi State.
Belmont will open the weekend Friday, Feb. 27, with a doubleheader against Central Michigan beginning at 2 p.m. CT at Rose Park. Live stats will be available on belmontbruins.com.
What's Bruin
- Belmont is 8–5 overall after a 3–1 weekend at the Bulldog Invitational hosted by Mississippi State.
- The Bruins have secured two ranked SEC wins during the 2026 campaign, defeating No. 15 Georgia and No. 18 Mississippi State — the first two ranked SEC victories in program history.
- Redshirt senior Maya Johnson continues to lead the Bruins, delivering three straight dominant weekends in the circle. Johnson is 6–0 with 84 strikeouts across 42 innings pitched.
- Johnson earned Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week honors for the third consecutive week on Feb. 24 and was also named NFCA Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season.
- The veteran was named preseason Second Team All-American by D1 Softball and Softball America and was named the preseason No. 1 Mid-Major Player by D1 Softball.
- 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 favored in the 2026 MVC Preseason Poll and have appeared in D1 Softball's Mid-Major Top 25 for four consecutive weeks, most recently ranked No. 13.
- Johnson and Hughes were named Preseason First Team All-MVC selections, while Spindler, Balsiger, and Blume earned honorable mention honors.
- Sophomore Rylee Spindler has made an immediate impact this season, launching a first-inning, two-run home run that accounted for the only hit in Belmont's win over No. 15 Georgia.
- Sophomore Madison Dolecki delivered the game-winning RBI, also accounting for the only hit in Bruins' victory over No. 18 Mississippi State.
- 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 Central Michigan.
- The Bruins are 2–0 all-time against Southern Indiana, with their most recent win being an 8–4 victory on Feb. 21, 2015, in Birmingham, Ala.
- Belmont will also face Ohio for the first time in program history this weekend.
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.
