{"id":143971,"date":"2026-02-04T22:33:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T22:33:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/143971\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T22:33:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T22:33:12","slug":"softball-opens-season-in-tampa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/143971\/","title":{"rendered":"Softball Opens Season in Tampa"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>                &#13;<br \/>\n                    Story Links&#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<br \/>\n                    &#13;<\/p>\n<p>                 TAMPA, Fla.\u00a0\u2013 Bethune-Cookman Softball opens the 2026\u00a0campaign on Thursday in Tampa, Florida, as the Wildcats take part in the USF-Rawlings Invitational at USF Softball Stadium. Joining the Maroon and Gold in the field are South Florida, Illinois State, Kansas, Michigan, and No. 6 Florida.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Schedule In-Story Header\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/The_Schedule.jpg\" style=\"display: inline-block;\"\/><br \/>&#13;<br \/>\nThursday, Feb. 5<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n12:30 p.m. \u2013 vs. Illinois State |\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stats.statbroadcast.com\/broadcast\/?id=648231\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Live Stats<\/a><br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n3:05 p.m. \u2013 vs. South Florida |\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stats.statbroadcast.com\/broadcast\/?id=648231\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ESPN+<\/a>\u00a0| <a href=\"https:\/\/stats.statbroadcast.com\/broadcast\/?id=648215\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Live Stats<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tunein.com\/radio\/Bulls-Unlimited-s320681\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Listen<\/a><br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\nFriday, Feb. 6\u00a0<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n9 a.m. \u2013 vs. Kansas\u00a0| <a href=\"https:\/\/stats.statbroadcast.com\/broadcast\/?id=646143\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Live Stats<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n11:30\u00a0a.m. \u2013 vs. Michigan |\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stats.statbroadcast.com\/broadcast\/?id=648232&amp;vislive=mich\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Live Stats<\/a><br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\nSaturday, Feb. 7<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n6 p.m. \u2013 vs. No. 6 Florida\u00a0| <a href=\"https:\/\/stats.statbroadcast.com\/broadcast\/?id=648238\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Live Stats<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/floridagators.com\/watch\/?Live=5868&amp;type=Live\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Listen<\/a><br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Notes &amp; Stats In-Story Header\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Notes_Stats.jpg\" style=\"display: inline-block;\" width=\"300\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;\n<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\tSenior outfielder <a href=\"https:\/\/bcuathletics.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/emma-bradley-tse\/11062\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"11062\" target=\"_blank\">Emma Bradley-Tse<\/a> was named to the SWAC Preseason Second-Team. She returns having ranked first on the team in batting average and tied for first in RBI in 2025.\u00a0&#13;<br \/>\n\tThe Wildcats will welcome 17 freshman to the fold in 2026, who make up 70% of the entire roster. Bethune-Cookman will have\u00a0to replace 62% of its RBI production from last season.&#13;<br \/>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/bcuathletics.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/sofia-vallejos-coleman\/11058\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"11058\" target=\"_blank\">Sofia Vallejos-Coleman<\/a>\u00a0is the only returning pitcher from last season. She pitched to an 0-4 record and recorded a 4.98 ERA in 39.1 innings of work.&#13;<br \/>\n\tBethune-Cookman is projected to finish fourth in the east division according to the SWAC Preseason Poll.&#13;<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"History In-Story Header\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/History_4cDXW.jpg\" style=\"display: inline-block;\" width=\"300\"\/><br \/>\n\u25aa Bethune-Cookman is 1-1 all-time against Illinois State. The two teams faced in 2024 in Tampa with the Wildcats coming out on top in nine innings.<br \/>\n\u25aa The Wildcats have faced South Florida 17 times. The Bulls lead the series 13-4 and have won the previous nine meetings.<br \/>\n\u25aa B-CU is 1-5 all-time against the Jayhawks. The last matchup was a Wildcat victory in 2019.<br \/>\n\u25aa Against Michigan, the Cats are 0-3, most recently suffering a narrow 3-2 loss to the Wolverines in 2024.<br \/>\n\u25aa This will be the 25th matchup between the Wildcats and Gators. Florida holds a decisive 19-4 edge in the series and have won the last 10 meetings.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Scouting the Opponent In-Story Header\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Scouting_Opponent.jpg\" style=\"display: inline-block;\" width=\"300\"\/><br \/>&#13;<br \/>\nSCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE<br \/>\nRankings: USA Today\/NFCA Coaches \u2013 NR | ESPN.com\/USA Softball \u2013 NR<br \/>\nHead Coach: Tina Kramos (4th season)<br \/>\n2025 Batting Average: .259; Runs Per Game: 3.5; Hits Per Game: 7.0; Slugging Percentage: .344<br \/>\n2025\u00a0ERA: 3.58; K\/BB Ratio: 1.3; Opp. Batting Avg: .287<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nSCOUTING SOUTH FLORIDA<br \/>\nRankings: USA Today\/NFCA Coaches \u2013 NR | ESPN.com\/USA Softball \u2013 NR<br \/>\nHead Coach: Ken Eriksen\u00a0(30th season)<br \/>\n2025\u00a0Batting Average: .323; Runs Per Game: 6.0; Hits Per Game: 7.7; Slugging Percentage: .514<br \/>\n2025\u00a0ERA: 3.05; K\/BB Ratio: 1.7; Opp. Batting Avg: .256<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nSCOUTING KANSAS<br \/>\nRankings: USA Today\/NFCA Coaches \u2013 NR | ESPN.com\/USA Softball \u2013 NR<br \/>\nHead Coach: Jennifer McFalls (9th season)<br \/>\n2024 Batting Average: .272; Runs Per Game: 4.7; Hits Per Game: 7.3; Slugging Percentage: .423<br \/>\n2024 ERA: 4.04; K\/BB Ratio: 1.1; Opp. Batting Avg: .270<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nSCOUTING MICHIGAN<br \/>\nRankings: USA Today\/NFCA Coaches \u2013 NR | ESPN.com\/USA Softball \u2013 NR<br \/>\nHead Coach: Bonnie Tholl (4th season)<br \/>\n2025 Batting Average: .309; Runs Per Game: 5.5; Hits Per Game: 8.3; Slugging Percentage: .486<br \/>\n2025 ERA: 3.16; K\/BB Ratio: 2.1; Opp. Batting Avg: .233<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nSCOUTING FLORIDA<br \/>\nRankings: USA Today\/NFCA Coaches \u2013 6 | ESPN.com\/USA Softball \u2013 6<br \/>\nHead Coach: Tim Walton (21st season)<br \/>\n2025\u00a0Batting Average: .334; Runs Per Game: 7.3; Hits Per Game: 8.7; Slugging Percentage: .589<br \/>\n2025\u00a0ERA: 3.04; K\/BB Ratio: 1.5; Opp. Batting Avg: .239<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nADMISSIONS<br \/>\nTickets for the event can be accessed\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/am.ticketmaster.com\/univsouthflorida\/South_Florida_Softball\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nFOLLOW THE WILDCATS<br \/>\nFollow Bethune-Cookman Softball on X\/Twitter (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bcusoftball\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@BCUSoftball<\/a>) and Instagram (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bcusoftball\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@BCUSoftball<\/a>) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/bcuathletics\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@BCUAthletics<\/a>), Instagram (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bcu_athletics\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@BCU_Athletics<\/a>) and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bcuathletics.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">BCUathletics.com<\/a>.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n            <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"&#13; Story Links&#13; &#13; &#13; TAMPA, Fla.\u00a0\u2013 Bethune-Cookman Softball opens the 2026\u00a0campaign on Thursday in Tampa, Florida, as&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":143972,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[135,137,136],"class_list":["post-143971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143971\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=143971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}