Boston College Athletics
Season Preview: Eagles Set to Open the 2026 Season
February 04, 2026 | Softball
Team 43 is ready for the 2026 season
Chestnut Hill, Mass. - Boston College softball is set to open the 2026 season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., kicking off the year this weekend against a competitive field. The Eagles will face Eastern Kentucky, Penn State, Tennessee, Southeastern Louisiana, and Longwood beginning this Friday, Feb. 6.
A LOOK AT CLEARWATER COMPETITION
Eastern Kentucky enters the weekend after a strong 2025 campaign that saw the Colonels reach the ASUN Championship game following a 38-16 season. EKU returns two All-ASUN selections in Kennedy Drafton and Jada McLeod, providing experience and production on both sides of the ball.Â
Penn State follows with one of the nation's most potent offenses after setting a program-record .329 team batting average last season. The Nittany Lions bring back several key contributors, including junior utility Brooke Klosowicz, sophomore outfielder Natalie Lieto, and junior pitcher Bridget Nemeth, the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
The Eagles will also square off with Tennessee, which returns two-time consensus First Team All-American and two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens for her final season. The Volunteers advanced to the national semifinals at the Women's College World Series in 2025 and welcomed back 14 returners alongside nine newcomers.Â
Southeastern Louisiana presents another major test after finishing 50-16 last season and advancing to the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional final with two wins over host and No. 10 LSU. The Lions return eight positional starters, their top two pitchers, and all four 2025 First Team All-Southland Conference selections, including SLC Hitter of the Year Ka'Lyn Watson and First Team pitcher Cera Blanchard. Longwood rounds out the opening weekend, led by All-Big South First Team catcher Brooke Bennett, who hit .331 with 42 hits during her freshman season.
A LOOK AT THE SEASON AHEAD
The NFCA Leadoff Classic marks the start of three consecutive weekends in Florida for Boston College, as the Eagles continue nonconference play at the Fonseca Memorial Tournament hosted by USF and the USF Invitational. The extended southern swing allows BC to escape winter conditions while facing a wide range of opponents, including Kansas, Yale, Colgate, Indiana, and tournament host South Florida, before opening ACC play in North Carolina. The first home series for the Eagles will be March 27-29 against Virginia Tech. A pivotal conference stretch includes a key home series against regional rivals Syracuse from April 10-12.
TEAM 43
Leadership will be anchored by a small but impactful senior class of Halie Pappion, Janis Espinoza, Meghan Schouten, and Maycee Hilt. Espinoza provided steady production at the top and middle of the lineup in her first season with the Eagles, appearing in 42 games and batting .275 with 28 hits and 12 RBI while offering versatility and veteran presence on defense. Schouten appeared in 47 games and delivered timely power, slashing .222 with 24 hits, six doubles, three home runs, and 18 RBI while anchoring the infield.
In the circle, Pappion returns after missing the 2025 season due to injury. In 2024, she made 28 appearances and 18 starts, logging 116.2 innings with 93 strikeouts and an 11-7 record while posting a 2.88 ERA. She is joined by returning pitching leaders Bailey Kendziorski and Kelly Colleran, who combined for 281.1 of BC's 332.1 innings last season, striking out 163 batters with a combined ERA of 4.62.
The Eagles also welcome a strong freshman class poised to make an immediate impact. Kae DePerio, Mia Galella, Alyx Rossi, Nicole Riddell, Emma Knight, Holly Paharik, Emily Van Cleef, and Sophia Bertorelli join the roster, adding depth across the field as BC looks to build momentum throughout the season.
NEW LEADERSHIP ON THE HEIGHTS
The 2026 season also marks the beginning of a new era for Boston College softball under head coach Beth Krysiak, who was announced as the program's sixth head coach on June 13. Krysiak arrives on the Heights after two highly successful seasons at Saint Francis, where she led the Red Flash to back-to-back Northeast Conference championships and two appearances in the NCAA Regionals.
During her tenure at Saint Francis, Krysiak coached 18 All-NEC selections, including the 2025 NEC Player of the Year, and developed five NFCA All-Region honorees. Her track record of postseason success and player development brings a new level of momentum and expectation to the Eagles' program.
Krysiak retained assistant coach Tori Constantin while adding Matt Burke and Garrett Nickel to her staff. Together, the new coaching staff brings a blend of experience, continuity, and fresh perspective.
2025 RECAP
Boston College enters the season following a 22–29 overall record and a 5–19 mark in ACC play, with an emphasis on growth, depth, and consistency.
UP NEXT
The Eagles continue their Florida stretch at the Fonseca Memorial Tournament hosted by USF starting on Feb.12 at 3 p.m. in Tampa.Â
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