BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Campbell softball team will open the 2026 season at home by hosting the Campbell Stampede, welcoming Tennessee Tech, Florida A&M and Howard to Buies Creek from Feb. 6–8. 

The Camels will play Tennessee Tech and Florida A&M on Friday and Saturday before closing the weekend against Howard on Sunday. Campbell will face Tennessee Tech and Florida A&M twice each during the tournament. The Camels open the event at 4 p.m. Friday against Tennessee Tech.

Live stats will be available for all games. Fans can listen to Campbell's games Friday and Saturday on the Varsity Network.

FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, February 6th
10:00AM – Howard vs. Tennesse Tech
12:30PM – Florida A&M vs. Howard
4:00 PM – Tennesse Tech vs. Campbell
6:30PM – Florida A&M vs. Campbell

Saturday, February 7th
10:00AM – Howard vs. Florida A&M
12:30PM – Tennesse Tech vs. Howard
3:00 PM – Florida A&M vs. Campbell
5:30PM – Tennesse Tech vs. Campbell

Sunday, February 8th
10:00AM – Florida A&M vs. Tennesse Tech
12:30PM – Howard vs. Campbell

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT (TENNESSEE TECH)

In 2025, Tennessee Tech finished 21-35 overall and 11-16 in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2025 and is projected to place sixth in the OVC in 2026. The Golden Eagles won two games in last season's conference tournament, defeating Tennessee State and Southern Indiana. Junior pitcher Emily York and redshirt junior outfielder Olivia Evans were named to the OVC Players to Watch list. Evans led the team with a .331 batting average, 45 hits and 30 runs scored while stealing 14 bases in 15 attempts. York earned 11 wins with a 3.34 ERA, striking out a team-high 89 batters in 138 1/3 innings. Tennessee Tech opens its season against Howard at 10 a.m. Friday.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT (FLORIDA A&M)

Last season, Florida A&M posted a 28-20 overall record and went 19-5 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play in 2025. The Rattlers were picked to finish second in the East Division in the SWAC preseason poll after reaching the conference championship game and finishing as tournament runner-up last season.  Florida A&M opens its season against Howard at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT (HOWARD)

In 2025, Howard finished 31-20 overall and 20-1 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play in 2025 before falling to Duke and Coastal Carolina in the NCAA Regional. Graduate student Taylor Ames-Alexander was named MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, while Julia Holt earned Preseason Pitcher of the Year honors. Ames-Alexander was the 2025 MEAC Player of the Year at South Carolina State, where she led the league with a .421 batting average and guided the Bulldogs to the MEAC championship game. Holt struck out 94 batters in 113 innings last season and was named to the 2025 All-MEAC First Team after helping lead the Bison to their third MEAC title in program history. Six players from Howard were selected to the preseason All-MEAC First Team: Ames-Alexander, Holt, Destiny Calloway, Merci Hart, Lauryn Jones and Angel Riggins. Senior outfielder Maryn Jordan earned preseason All-MEAC Second Team honors. Howard will face Tennessee Tech and Florida A&M twice each before meeting Campbell.

SERIES HISTORY (VS. TENNESSEE TECH)

The series between Campbell and Tennessee Tech is tied all-time, 3-3. The teams last met in 2015 at the Georgia Southern Invitational in Statesboro, Georgia, when the Camels earned a 3-0 victory.

SERIES HISTORY (VS. FLORIDA A&M)
Campbell leads the all-time series with Florida A&M, 1-0. The lone meeting came during Campbell's 2022 season opener at the River City Leadoff in Jacksonville, Florida, a 4-0 Camels win.

SERIES HISTORY (VS. HOWARD)
Campbell holds a 6-2 advantage in the all-time series with Howard. The teams last met at the 2022 Campbell Stampede, where the Camels won 2-0 in their home opener. Campbell has won the last three meetings dating back to 2008, with the Bison scoring only two runs during that span, both in the 2008 contest.

PRESEASON RECOGNITION

Campbell had a league-high four players named to the Preseason All-CAA team: Hannah Cornetto, Amber DeSena, Charlie Montgomery and Allyiah Swiney. The Camels also added two honorable mentions, Alyssa Armijo and Madison Ford, tying for the league high. Campbell's six total Preseason All-CAA selections are the most among all CAA teams.

NEWCOMERS IN THE CREEK

Campbell welcomes nine newcomers for the 2026 season. The group includes six transfers and three freshmen. Freshmen Katelyn Hubley, Lexi Kirby and Kylie Specht enter their first season, along with transfers Emily Allegood, Ryleigh Bennett, Cheyenne Jackson, Grace Kealy, Aubrey Tamayo and Kasey Wolfe.

SUCCESS AT THE STAMPEDE

Since the inaugural Campbell Stampede Tournament in 2022, the Camels are 14-5 across the event's four editions. In 2024 and 2025, Campbell posted 4-1 records each weekend.

STAY TUNED

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