Pirates Announce 2026 Softball Schedule
December 05, 2025 | Softball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Three home preseason tournaments, trips to Georgia Tech and Duke and a slate of 27 American Conference contests highlight East Carolina Softball's 56-game schedule as the Pirates revealed their full slate of games for the 2026 season on Friday.
"We're going to be tested early and often with seven of our first 10 games against Power Four opponents," head coach Shane Winkler said. "I wanted to make sure we put together a strength of schedule that would build an NCAA Tournament resume while preparing us for an always demanding American Conference schedule. The most exciting thing is getting to bring everyone to Greenville for the conference tournament at Max R. Joyner. This is going to be a very exciting season for Pirate Softball."
The Pirates begin the fifth season of the Shane Winkler era at the Buzz Classic (Feb. 6-8) facing Georgia Tech, Alabama and Villanova in that three-day span. The team will come home for an 11-game stretch at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium beginning with the Purple-Gold Classic (Feb. 13-15) against Maryland, Notre Dame and Buffalo followed by a midweek matchup with UNCW (Feb. 18) and concluded with the Pirate Clash (Feb. 20-22) versus James Madison, St. Bonaventure and Towson.
ECU will travel to Duke (Feb. 24) before hosting Campbell, Rider and St. John's in the Battle at the Max (Feb. 27-Mar. 1) and facing Campbell again in midweek action (Mar. 4).
American Conference play starts for the Pirates at home against Wichita State (Mar. 6-8), followed by a road series at Florida Atlantic (Mar. 13-15) and a midweek battle at home against Elon (Mar. 17).
After a road trip to Memphis (Mar. 20-22), the Pirates will play four straight contests at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium, taking on Stanford (Mar. 25) and UAB (Mar. 27-29). ECU will then face in-state competition over the next couple of weeks, visiting UNCW (Mar. 31) and hosting Charlotte (Apr. 2-4) and NC State (Apr. 7).
The Pirates close out the month of April with a trip to North Texas (Apr. 10-12), a midweek clash with North Carolina (Apr. 14), a home series against South Florida (Apr. 17-19) and road contests at Tulsa (Apr. 24-26) and NC State (Apr. 28).
ECU concludes the regular season at home against UTSA (May 1-3) before hosting the American Conference Softball Championship at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium (May 6-9).
"We're going to be tested early and often with seven of our first 10 games against Power Four opponents," head coach Shane Winkler said. "I wanted to make sure we put together a strength of schedule that would build an NCAA Tournament resume while preparing us for an always demanding American Conference schedule. The most exciting thing is getting to bring everyone to Greenville for the conference tournament at Max R. Joyner. This is going to be a very exciting season for Pirate Softball."
The Pirates begin the fifth season of the Shane Winkler era at the Buzz Classic (Feb. 6-8) facing Georgia Tech, Alabama and Villanova in that three-day span. The team will come home for an 11-game stretch at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium beginning with the Purple-Gold Classic (Feb. 13-15) against Maryland, Notre Dame and Buffalo followed by a midweek matchup with UNCW (Feb. 18) and concluded with the Pirate Clash (Feb. 20-22) versus James Madison, St. Bonaventure and Towson.
ECU will travel to Duke (Feb. 24) before hosting Campbell, Rider and St. John's in the Battle at the Max (Feb. 27-Mar. 1) and facing Campbell again in midweek action (Mar. 4).
American Conference play starts for the Pirates at home against Wichita State (Mar. 6-8), followed by a road series at Florida Atlantic (Mar. 13-15) and a midweek battle at home against Elon (Mar. 17).
After a road trip to Memphis (Mar. 20-22), the Pirates will play four straight contests at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium, taking on Stanford (Mar. 25) and UAB (Mar. 27-29). ECU will then face in-state competition over the next couple of weeks, visiting UNCW (Mar. 31) and hosting Charlotte (Apr. 2-4) and NC State (Apr. 7).
The Pirates close out the month of April with a trip to North Texas (Apr. 10-12), a midweek clash with North Carolina (Apr. 14), a home series against South Florida (Apr. 17-19) and road contests at Tulsa (Apr. 24-26) and NC State (Apr. 28).
ECU concludes the regular season at home against UTSA (May 1-3) before hosting the American Conference Softball Championship at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium (May 6-9).
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ECU Softball vs Campbell
Tuesday, April 15
ECU Softball vs Memphis
Saturday, April 05
ECU Softball vs Boston College
Sunday, February 23
ECU Softball vs Canisius
Saturday, February 22
