University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Miami (OH)
Players Mentioned
Gophers Begin 2026 Campaign in San Diego
2/5/2026 12:00:00 PM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota softball team opens the 2026 season at the SDSU Season Kickoff in San Diego, Calif. The Gophers will face Miami (OH), San Diego State, Loyola Chicago, and Kentucky over the five-game weekend slate.
Weekend Schedule
Game One
Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. Miami (OH) (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Date: Friday, Feb. 6
Time: 1:30 p.m. CT
Game Two
Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. San Diego State (0-0, 0-0 MW)
Date: Friday, Feb. 6
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Game Three
Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. Miami (OH) (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 7
Time: 11:00 a.m. CT
Game Four
Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. Loyola Chicago (0-0, 0-0 A-10)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 7
Time: 1:30 p.m. CT
Game Five
Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. Kentucky (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 8
Time: 12:30 p.m. CT
Season Kickstart
Minnesota opens its three-day, five-game slate against Miami (OH) on Friday at 1:30 p.m. CT before closing opening day against host San Diego State at 6:30 p.m. CT. The Gophers return to action Saturday with a rematch against Miami (OH) at 11:00 a.m. CT and a matchup with Loyola Chicago at 1:30 p.m. CT. Minnesota concludes the tournament Sunday against Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. CT.
Historical Notes
- Minnesota is 3-1 all-time against Miami (OH), including two wins over the RedHawks last season by scores of 4-3 and 9-6. Jessa Snippes delivered a walk-off grand slam to secure the 9-6 victory on March 1, 2025.
- The Gophers are 6-6 all-time against San Diego State, most recently earning a 5-3 win on Feb. 9, 2024.
- Minnesota last faced Loyola Chicago on March 24, 2001, earning a 4-3 victory. The 'U' is undefeated all-time against the Ramblers (3-0).
- Sunday's matchup against Kentucky marks the first meeting between the two programs.
A Tradition of Gopher Softball
The 2026 season marks the 52nd year of Minnesota softball. Piper Ritter enters her sixth season as head coach and 19th overall with the program. Bailey Oetting (fourth season) and Roya St. Clair (second season) return as assistant coaches, while Stephanie Lombardo joins the staff after serving as a development coach with the Greensboro Grasshoppers (High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates).
Veteran Leadership in the Circle
Senior pitcher Sydney Schwartz returns to the circle after a standout junior campaign. Schwartz earned All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors and led the staff with 39 appearances and 27 starts, totaling 158.0 innings. She posted six shutouts, a 2.84 ERA, and 123 strikeouts, ranking among the Big Ten's top pitchers in multiple categories. Schwartz finished the year 10-16 with three saves and 13 complete games.
Sophomore Surge
Tinley Easton and Jae Cosgriff look to build on strong freshman seasons in expanded roles. Easton is set to anchor shortstop after appearing in 42 games with a .927 fielding percentage and a .234 batting average. Cosgriff returns to the outfield after posting a .968 fielding percentage and a .215 average. Natalie Susa also returns to the circle after recording 38 strikeouts in 44.0 innings last season.
Big Ten Players to Watch
Cameron Chard, Tinley Easton, and Sydney Schwartz were named Big Ten Players to Watch by the conference's head coaches ahead of the 2026 season.
Freshman Class
The 'U' welcomes six freshmen: Ellie Shand, Carter Raymond, Keali Cochran, Scarlett Kuhn, Kennedy Jacobson, and Kyllin Stangl. Shand and Cochran hail from California, with Cochran earning Citrus Belt League All-Conference honors all four years at Beaumont High School. Shand competed with the West Coast Lady Dukes Blanco 18U and earned a varsity letter at San Dimas High School. Kuhn arrives from Texas after an award-filled prep career, including District 4-6A Offensive Player of the Year (2025), Newcomer of the Year (2022), Defensive Player of the Year (2023), and multiple First Team All-District honors. Raymond, Jacobson, and Stangl stay home in Minnesota. Raymond was named the 2024 Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year, Minnesota MaxPreps Player of the Year, Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, and All-Area Player of the Year. Jacobson earned multiple All-Conference and All-Section selections, while Stangl was a multi-time All-Conference, All-Section, and All-State First Team honoree. Transfer catcher Cassie Johnson looks to make an impact after joining Minnesota from Texas Tech. The redshirt freshman was ranked the No. 10 overall player in the 2024 class by Perfect Game and earned All-State, First Team All-District, and First Team All-Conference honors during her prep career.
Schedule Snapshot
Minnesota's 2026 schedule features 51 games, including 27 non-conference matchups and 24 Big Ten contests. The Gophers will face 10 teams that reached the 2025 NCAA Tournament, including Top 25 foes Oklahoma, Nebraska and Arizona. The season opens with a road-heavy early slate that includes trips to California, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Minnesota hosts its first games at the Gopher Indoor Classic (Feb. 20–22) at U.S. Bank Stadium before Big Ten play begins March 6 at Indiana. Conference action includes home series against Illinois, Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin, with road trips to Iowa, Washington and Northwestern. The 2026 Big Ten Tournament is set for May 6–9 in College Park, Md.