University of Delaware Athletics
Softball Announces 2026 Schedule
12/12/2025 12:30:00 PM | Softball
NEWARK, Del. - University of Delaware softball has announced its schedule for the 2026 season, its first year as a member of Conference USA. The schedule features 54 regular season games, including 28 contests at Delaware Softball Diamond - now completely renovated after construction began prior to the 2025 season. The Blue Hens will also play eight games against Power 4 schools, including six against Big Ten opponents, and 11 games against 2025 NCAA Tournament teams.
Delaware begins the year in Boca Raton, Fla. at the FAU Paradise Tournament on February 6, equaling its earliest start date in program history (also done in 2014 and 2025). UD opens with Stonehill and will play Army twice, Indiana, and defending two-time American Athletic Conference regular season champion Florida Atlantic during the opening weekend. The Blue Hens will remain in Florida through Feb. 10 and play a doubleheader at USF in Tampa, facing the Bulls for a second straight season. USF won the AAC Tournament Championship in 2025.Â
UD's home opener is set for Feb. 13 against Georgetown — the earliest home game in program history. Delaware rounds out that weekend with doubleheaders against the Hoyas and Saint Joseph's. The Blue Hens then head to the Mizuno Classic, hosted by Virginia, for the third straight season. Delaware will play five games against three Power Conference opponents, including its first of three matchups this season with Maryland. Delaware's games against Ohio State on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21 will be the first in program history against the Buckeyes. Â
Delaware closes out February by hosting the Blue Hen Invitational against Le Moyne, Quinnipiac, and Bryant. On March 4, UD travels to College Park for its second game of the season against Maryland.
The first series of CUSA play begins at home against FIU on March 6. Delaware last faced the Panthers in 2016, taking two of three on the road. UD's first CUSA away series follows at LA Tech, a team it has met only once - a 4-3 Delaware win on Feb. 9, 2013. The Blue Hens return home for a midweek matchup with Delaware State on March 18 before hosting fellow CUSA newcomer Missouri State on March 21, the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Delaware hosts the first of two games against regional rival Villanova on March 25. The Blue Hens have won the last two matchups, including a 12–2 victory last season in six innings. UD ends March with a major conference series at Liberty. The Flames went 23-3 in conference play and 50-15 overall last year, advancing to a Super Regional after upsetting No. 1 overall seed Texas A&M.
April opens on the road as Delaware travels to El Paso for its first-ever meetings with UTEP beginning April 2, followed by a trip to Villanova on April 8 to cap off a string of seven-straight road games. The Blue Hens then return home for a seven-game stretch, hosting Middle Tennessee beginning April 10, Kennesaw State beginning April 17, and their final game of the year against Maryland on April 22.
UD's final two CUSA series are at New Mexico State beginning April 22 and at home against Western Kentucky on April 30. The CUSA Tournament - hosted by Delaware - begins May 6. It marks the first time the Blue Hens have hosted a conference tournament since the 2001 America East Championship.
Delaware had a historic season in 2025 that led to its third CAA Regular Season Championship in four years. The Blue Hens broke numerous program records during the year including home runs, doubles, strikeouts, conference wins, consecutive conference wins, run-rule victories, consecutive run-rule victories, and postseason honors in a season. The 23 conference wins were the most ever by a CAA team. Delaware is one of eight Division I teams with at least 20 conference wins in each of the last two seasons.Â
TICKETS
Softball season ticket deposits are available now. Season ticket packages and individual game tickets will go on sale later this winter.Â
Individual ticket prices will be $10 per game and $5 for youth (ages 3-12). Season ticket packages will be available at 50 percent off the single game rate. There will also be group rate, incentives, and additional gameday experience opportunities. All seating will be general admission at Delaware Softball Diamond.
UD students will continue to receive free tickets to all home softball games.
Fans can also join the Coop Crew for grades K-12. This group features one-on-one communication with a Blue Hen player, on-field experience and a pizza party during a select home game, autograph and photo opportunities, and an end-of-the-year youth clinic.Â
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