Softball Opens 2026 Season at NFCA Leadoff Classic

Friday, February 6

Clearwater, Fla.

5 PM

Michigan State University

BYU

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2/4/2026 9:50:00 AM | Softball

Michigan State at NFCA Leadoff Classic
Dates/Location	Friday-Sunday, Feb. 6-8 Clearwater, Fla. \| Eddie C. Moore Complex \| FAQ's
Tickets	P urchase Here
Tournament Information	Tournament Central
Television	None
Webstreams	GameChanger App
Live Statistics	Click Here
Game Notes	Michigan State
Social Media	Facebook X Instagram

Around the Horn
What you need to know about Spartan softball

• Michigan State opens its 54th season Feb. 6-8 in Clearwater, Florida. MSU returns 11 letterwinners from the 2025 squad, and has added five transfers and seven freshmen to the program for 2026.

• 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of MSU's AIAW National Championship title in softball - the first-ever national championship captured by a women's team at MSU.

• During the 2026 campaign, MSU will play 18 games against eight opponents which are ranked or receiving votes in the NFCA pre-season poll. MSU will play both (RV) Auburn and No. 13 Clemson this weekend in Clearwater.

• By a vote of team members, the captains for 2026 are seniors Britain Beshears, Kirsten Caravaca, and Sydney Doloszycki, and junior Hannah Greer.

• MSU had top-five single-season performances in home runs in program history the last two seasons, smacking 50 round-trippers in 2024 (T-third) and adding 49 in 2025 (fifth).

• MSU's two top returning offensive threats are seniors Britain Beshears and Hannah Hawley. Hawley produced 11 homers a year ago and 12 as a sophomore - the first Spartan with consecutive 10+ home run seasons since Lea Foerster (2017, 2018). Hawley's 23 career home runs at MSU rank ninth in program history, one behind teammate Britain Beshears who is in a three-way tie for sixth (24). Beshears launched eight homers a year ago, and had 15 as a sophomore - good for second all-time in a single season.

• Sydney Doloszycki and Beshears are the two seniors to have spent their entire collegiate careers in Green & White. Doloszycki started all 44 games she played a year ago, and has started 105 of 111 games over three seasons. In 2025, she logged a team-best 131 at-bats, posting team highs in doubles (7) and sharing the team high in RBI (29). She was second on the squad in homers (9) and sac hits (7).

• Newcomer Kirsten Caravaca has been voted a team captain.The North Florida transfer started 59 games and hit .345 with 12 doubles, three triples, a pair of homers, and added 34 RBI for the ASUN Champs.

• Sophomores Jacey Schuler and Carsyn Cassady are pitching staff returnees and led the 2025 team in innings pitched (93.0 and 64.2, respectively). Junior transfers Autumn Behlke and Natalie Lower will add a veteran presence, while talented newcomers Alex Starr and Alyssa Galindo were named to the Softball America Big Ten Freshmen to Watch preseason list.