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Texas State softball’s journey through the 2026 NCAA Tournament begins in the Gainesville regional. The group consists of the host Florida, Georgia Tech and Florida A&M.
The Bobcats ended the regular season winning five of their last six games, taking that momentum into an appearance in the Sun Belt Tournament Championship Game. As the No. 2 seed in the region, Texas State will face off with Georgia Tech first before taking on either Florida or Florida A&M.
MORE:Texas State's Megan Kelnar overcame a broken leg to fulfill her dream of college softball
Texas State is led by Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Madison Azua, who is second in the country in innings pitched with a 1.9 earned run average, which ranks 22nd in the nation. The hottest bats include infielders Kate Bubela and Katarina Zarate, who both hit two home runs in the Sun Belt Tournament. The best hitter, however, is Aiyana Coleman. The infielder has a keen eye for the plate and leads the nation in total walks.
The winner of the region will take on whichever team emerges from the Lubbock regional. Here’s everything to know ahead of Texas State’s opening game.
Texas State Bobcats starting pitcher Maddy Azua (22) pitches in the first inning as the Bobcats take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bobcat Softball Stadium in San Marcos, April 15, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
All times in CT
Georgia Tech was one of the last four teams in, finishing the regular season with a 30-27 record and losing to Florida State in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.
The Yellowjackets had to deal with a stacked conference that sent eight teams to the NCAA tournament. They were seventh in total runs scored among ACC teams (321) and ninth in ERA (3.84). Georgia Tech ranks 44th in RPI and went 3-16 against Quad 1 teams. Keep an eye on pitcher Madalyn Johnson (3.42 ERA) and Gracyn Tucker (1.203 on-base plus slugging percentage) as standouts.
Although the Southeastern Conference is loaded with strong programs such as Texas, Arkansas and Alabama, Florida still finished third in the conference standings. It speaks to the strength of the Gators, which had seven players selected to All-SEC teams.
Florida earned wins over Tennessee, Arkansas and UCF in the regular season. It's ranked fifth in RPI and went 12-9 against Quad 1 teams. The Gators have scored the second-most runs in the SEC, led primarily by First Team All-SEC selections Jocelyn Erickson, Townsen Thomas and Taylor Shumaker. Pitcher Keagan Rothrock was also First Team All-SEC, recording a 2.55 ERA in 31 games started.
The top team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Florida A&M, won the SWAC Championship 2-1 in walk-off fashion and will be tested heavily by Florida.
The standout Rattler is SWAC Player of the Year Amari Brown, who boasts a 4.11 batting average, 66 RBIs and 10 home runs. FAMU is ranked 166th in RPI and went 0-2 against Quad 1 teams. It faced Marshall in February non-conference play, falling 3-2 against the eventual Sun Belt regular-season champions.
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The Bobcats ended the regular season winning five of their last six games, taking that momentum into an appearance in the Sun Belt Tournament Championship Game. As the No. 2 seed in the region, Texas State will face off with Georgia Tech first before taking on either Florida or Florida A&M.
MORE:Texas State's Megan Kelnar overcame a broken leg to fulfill her dream of college softball
Texas State is led by Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Madison Azua, who is second in the country in innings pitched with a 1.9 earned run average, which ranks 22nd in the nation. The hottest bats include infielders Kate Bubela and Katarina Zarate, who both hit two home runs in the Sun Belt Tournament. The best hitter, however, is Aiyana Coleman. The infielder has a keen eye for the plate and leads the nation in total walks.
The winner of the region will take on whichever team emerges from the Lubbock regional. Here’s everything to know ahead of Texas State’s opening game.
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Texas State Bobcats starting pitcher Maddy Azua (22) pitches in the first inning as the Bobcats take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bobcat Softball Stadium in San Marcos, April 15, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
2026 Gainesville Regional softball schedule
All times in CT
Friday, May 14
- Game 1 — (6) Florida vs. Florida A&M | 10 a.m., SEC Network
- Game 2 — Texas State vs. Georgia Tech (30-27) | 12:30 p.m., ESPN +
Saturday, May 15
- Game 3 — Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 9 a.m.
- Game 4 — Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 11:30 a.m.
- Game 5 — Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3 | 2 p.m.
Sunday, May 16
- Game 6 — Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 11 a.m.
- Game 7 (If necessary) — Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 1:30 p.m.
Georgia Tech softball overview
Georgia Tech was one of the last four teams in, finishing the regular season with a 30-27 record and losing to Florida State in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.
The Yellowjackets had to deal with a stacked conference that sent eight teams to the NCAA tournament. They were seventh in total runs scored among ACC teams (321) and ninth in ERA (3.84). Georgia Tech ranks 44th in RPI and went 3-16 against Quad 1 teams. Keep an eye on pitcher Madalyn Johnson (3.42 ERA) and Gracyn Tucker (1.203 on-base plus slugging percentage) as standouts.
Florida softball overview
Although the Southeastern Conference is loaded with strong programs such as Texas, Arkansas and Alabama, Florida still finished third in the conference standings. It speaks to the strength of the Gators, which had seven players selected to All-SEC teams.
Florida earned wins over Tennessee, Arkansas and UCF in the regular season. It's ranked fifth in RPI and went 12-9 against Quad 1 teams. The Gators have scored the second-most runs in the SEC, led primarily by First Team All-SEC selections Jocelyn Erickson, Townsen Thomas and Taylor Shumaker. Pitcher Keagan Rothrock was also First Team All-SEC, recording a 2.55 ERA in 31 games started.
Florida A&M softball overview
The top team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Florida A&M, won the SWAC Championship 2-1 in walk-off fashion and will be tested heavily by Florida.
The standout Rattler is SWAC Player of the Year Amari Brown, who boasts a 4.11 batting average, 66 RBIs and 10 home runs. FAMU is ranked 166th in RPI and went 0-2 against Quad 1 teams. It faced Marshall in February non-conference play, falling 3-2 against the eventual Sun Belt regular-season champions.
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