Southern Miss Softball Opens 2026 Season at Black and Gold Challenge

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss Softball started its 2026 campaign Friday by hosting the Black and Gold Challenge at the Southern Miss Softball Complex. The tournament features five teams, including Southeast Missouri State, UAB, Lipscomb, and Louisiana Tech.

The Golden Eagles opened the tournament against Southeast Missouri State at 4:30 p.m., marking only the second meeting between the programs. Southern Miss previously lost 0-7 to SEMO on Feb. 15, 2020. The team will also face UAB at 2 p.m. and Lipscomb at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

On Sunday, Southern Miss will play two games, facing Louisiana Tech at 9 a.m. and Southeast Missouri State again at 11:30 a.m. The tournament is the first hosted by Southern Miss since 2023, and the team has a 15-5 record in the event since 2019, according to university athletics.

The roster includes 16 returning players, 11 freshmen, and one transfer — junior Katalina Ybarra. Head coach Natalie Poole, in her fourth year, recently signed a three-year contract extension. Senior leaders include Paris Ferguson and Natalie Herrington, both in their final seasons. Hannah Christian, named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team, along with Kayla Giardina and Carrie Green, posted strong debut seasons in 2025.

Southern Miss and SEMO will meet for the second time in program history. Lipscomb is also making its second appearance against the Golden Eagles, with the last game on Feb. 14, 2020. UAB will face Southern Miss for the first time since 2022, marking their 50th matchup overall. Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss have a scheduled game as well.

For updates, follow Southern Miss Softball on Facebook, X, and Instagram at @SouthernMissSB.

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