St. Paul, MN -- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2026 Softball Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday, with the NCU Softball team predicted to finish sixth in the conference. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
 
Follow the UMAC softball season this spring on the UMAC Sports Network; available to watch on the web, as a mobile app for iOS and Android, and as a TV app for Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku.

2026 UMAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll

        1. Bethany Lutheran | 35 (5)
        2. UW-Superior | 32 (2)
        3. Northwestern | 26 
        4. Minnesota Morris | 19
        5. Crown | 18
        6. North Central | 9
        7. Martin Luther | 8


Top Returners

Kaitlyn Havens, SO, C/2B | .286 Avg. / .772 OPS / 14 RBI / .875 FLD%
Erica Gilles, SR, P/1B | .275 Avg, / .661 OPS / 9 RBI / .966 FLD%

Under the direction of first-year Head Coach Madi Hecox, the Rams now turn their attention toward a spring slate that features early conference tests, an extended Florida trip, and a full UMAC schedule leading into postseason play. Click here to see softball's FULL SCHEDULE.

NCU opens the 2026 campaign on March 18-19, beginning conference action on the road with a three-game series at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul. The Rams then head south for 10 non-conference contests at "The 2026 Spring Games" in Clermont, Florida, beginning March 23. While in Florida, NCU will face Westminster College (MO) and Oberlin College (OH) on March 23, followed by a busy day on March 24 against Buffalo State (NY), Middlebury College (VT), and Lawrence University (WI). The Spring Games continue on March 26-27, with matchups against Union College (NY), Lawrence (WI), Augustana College (IL), St. Lawrence University (NY), and Middlebury (VT), giving the Rams an extended stretch of high-volume competition before returning to Minnesota.

NCU opens its home slate on April 1-2, hosting a three-game conference series against Minnesota Morris at Gleason Field in Maple Grove. The Rams then return to the road on April 10-11 for a three-game set at Crown College in St. Bonifacius. Mid-April brings a key home conference series, as NCU hosts UW-Superior on April 17-18 for three games at Gleason Field. The Rams then step back into non-conference play with a pair of road doubleheaders at Maranatha Baptist University on April 20 and Alverno College on April 21. Conference play resumes with a challenging road series at Bethany Lutheran College on April 24-25, before the Rams close out the regular season at home on May 1-2, hosting Martin Luther College for a three-game set at Gleason Field.

Postseason action begins May 7-9 with the 2026 UMAC Softball Playoffs, a 4-team double elimination tournament. The host site is yet to be determined.

All fans are encouraged to tune into the official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) pages for updates on softball and all things NCU Athletics.