WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – Opening day has arrived for Indiana Tech softball as the Warriors geared up for four games in two days to begin the 2026 season. Tech would play two games on Thursday and will play two more on Friday at the Patriot Classic hosted by the University of the Cumberlands. The (RV) Warriors will play both #7 ranked Cumberlands and (RV) Campbellsville once each day in a pair of doubleheaders.

On Thursday, the Warriors would start the day against (RV) Campbellsville University, where they would dominate from start to finish. Victoria Boyer hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning to put Tech up right off the bat. After two scoreless innings, the Tech bats would get hot in the fourth and fifth frames. Melissa Cabrera and Kaelie Kugler would both pick up RBIs in the fourth inning to extend the Warrior lead to five. Tech would add some insurance runs in the fifth to make it an eight-run lead. Tricia Hogrefe and Kugler would both pick up RBI singles, while Mikayla Cvitanovich would register her first career hit and RBI as the Warriors mercied the Tigers in game one. Savannah Bravo would start her senior campaign right where she left off last season with a dominant performance on the mound. Tech's ace didn't allow a hit through the first four innings of the game, finishing with two for the game, with seven strikeouts. Bravo picked up her 18^th career shoutout and 48^th career win, as she went the distance for the 53^rd time in her career to start the 2026 season at 1-0.

In game two of the day, the Warriors would battle the #7 ranked Patriots of Cumberlands. The Orange & Black would get on the board first when freshman Mae Griffore drove in a run in her first career at bat in the top of the second inning. However, the lead would only last one inning as the Patriots scored two in the third to go up 2-1. Tech would battle back in the fourth to tie it up when Kaelie Kugler reached on an error, bringing Allie Dolenc home. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Patriots regained the lead with a two out RBI single to go up 3-2. Back and forth the teams would go in a thrilling first day of action. Kiersten Delaney would start the rally in the top of the sixth inning for the Warriors with a one out double. After Griffore reached base and stole second, Kugler would get involved again as the Warriors tied it up at three. Kulger would attempt a bunt and Cumberlands would commit an error as Delaney came home. After Kugler eventually reached base by drawing a walk, Alyssa Harvey would drive in Griffore for the go ahead run. Tech would lead 4-3 going into the bottom of the sixth, but the Patriots would manage to get one runner home with two outs, sending the game into the final inning knotted up at four. Neither side would reach base in the seventh as the game went to extra innings. In the top half of the eighth inning, the Warriors would strand two runners on base, leaving the door open for the Patriots. With one out, Cumberlands would hit a deep sacrifice fly to centerfield, allowing the Patriots runner on third to come home and escape with a walk-off 5-4 victory. Carlye Walter would start on the mound for the Warriors, going 2.1 innings with four strikeouts, four hits allowed, and two runs allowed (one earned). Mallory Stinson would pitch in relief, throwing 5.1 innings, with one strikeout, four hits allowed, and three runs allowed (one earned).

The Warriors start the season at 1-1 and will play both Campbellsville and Cumberlands again tomorrow starting at 10am.

- TECH -