CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The schedule for the 41st season of Austin Peay State University softball was announced by eighth-year head coach Kassie Stanfill. The 54-game slate is features 23 games at Cathi Maynard Park and the return of both the Governors Classic and the Cathi Maynard Invitational.
The winningest coach in program history with 190 wins at the helm of Governors softball, Stanfill and the Govs are coming off a 39-16 campaign, tied for the most wins in a single season in program history. APSU also had a record 14 wins in Atlantic Sun Conference play, while earning a pair of postseason wins in the 2025 ASUN Softball Championship.
Austin Peay opens its 2026 season at the UWG Opening Weekend Event, Feb. 6-8, where it faces Georgia State, Drexel and host West Georgia. The Govs open the tournament with a doubleheader against Georgia State (Feb. 6) followed by West Georgia. The following afternoon, the Govs face Drexel (Feb. 7) followed by its second contest against the Panthers for the night cap. The tournament then concludes against the host Wolves at 2 p.m. (CT). Despite the Govs and Wolves both being ASUN Conference foes, both contests between the two will be treated as nonconference contests.
The second weekend of the season takes APSU to the Bayou State for McNeese's Carl Vincent Insurance Invitational. Both days of the event (Feb. 13-14) kick off with the Govs facing Lamar at 11 a.m., followed by a 4 p.m. first pitch against the Cowgirls. APSU then concludes the event against Illinois-Chicago (11 a.m.). APSU's contests against McNeese are the first since a three-game series sweep in Feb. 2019, with the second game of that series being the longest game in program history, a 16-inning, 2-1 victory in which APSU Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor Member Morgan Rackel tallied the complete-game victory.
From Louisiana, the Governors head west to Texas for the Bearkat Invitational (Feb. 20-22) where they'll face Prairie View A&M, Houston Christian, and host Sam Houston (Feb. 20-22). The invitational opens with its first-ever meeting against Prairie View A&M (Feb. 20) followed by a game against Sam Houston. The following morning, the Govs face Houston Christian (Feb. 21) for the second time in as many seasons and the first time since a 7-3 win last season (2/15/25) at Tarleton State's tournament, following another afternoon game against the hosting Bearkats, APSU closes the event against the Panthers (Feb 22).
With a trio of road tournaments now behind it, Austin Peay returns to the confines of Cathi Maynard Park for the first time in 2026 for the Governors Classic (Feb. 27 – March 1) in a field consisting of Stonehill, Southern Indiana, and Central Michigan. APSU faces Stonehill (Feb. 27) – another first-time foe – for a 12:30 p.m. game, which then will be followed by a 3 p.m. against Southern Indiana. The next day features a pair of foes from the Mid-American Conference in Central Michigan (Feb. 28) and Ohio, also at 12:30 p.m. / 1 p.m. doubleheader. The tournament concludes with APSU hosting Stonehill (March 1) for a 12:30 p.m., Sunday tilt.
Remaining in Clarksville to conclude its tournament season, the Govs host the Cathi Maynard Invitation (March 6-8). There, the Govs face Butler and Western Michigan. The Govs first day of the event features a 2 p.m. / 4 p.m. doubleheader against Butler (March 6) and Western Michigan at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively. The following day the Govs face Butler (March 7) in a doubleheader, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. and the final day sees APSU facing WMU at 1 p.m.
The Govs then travel to Columbia, Tennessee for the Mid-State Classic to face Tennessee (March 10) for its final pre-conference tuneup. A Women's College World Series participant, Tennessee enters the 2026 season ranked No. 4 by Softball America.
Atlantic Sun Conference play begins in the Bluegrass State, where the Govs ace Eastern Kentucky (March 14-15), before then heading back to the home state for its first of four midweeks against Tennessee Tech (March 18) in Cookeville.
After a brief stop back in Clarksville for its first home series of conference play against North Alabama (March 21-22), the Govs take on Murray State (March 25) before then heading to Conway, Arkansas for a three-day tilt with Central Arkansas (Mach 27-29).
April opens with seven-straight home games, beginning with an Easter weekend series against Bellarmine (April 3-4) before then hosting Middle Tennessee (April 7) for the second time in as many seasons for a 4 p.m., Wednesday midweek. The homestand then concludes against Lipscomb (April 11-12).
A seven-game, 12-day road trip opens with a neutral-site and in-state matchup against UT Martin (April 14) at Lexington High School in Henderson, Tennessee. The Govs then take on North Alabama (April 18-19) before its final road series of the regular season takes it to the Music City for a clash with Lipscomb (April 25-26).
The regular season then wraps up at Cathi Maynard Park, where APSU plays host to Eastern Kentucky (May 1-2).
The 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Softball Championship will take place May 5-9 at the UNF Softball Complex in Jacksonville, Florida. A full tournament bracket and other information will be made available at a later date.
