NORFOLK, VA-- The wait is over for the Saint Peter's Peacocks softball team. The Peacocks officially open the 2026 campaign with a three-game series against the Norfolk State Spartans from Saturday, February 28, through Sunday, March 1, at NSU Softball Field in Norfolk, Virginia.
First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., followed by game two at 3 p.m. The series concludes Sunday at noon.
Saint Peter's was projected to finish 13th in the MAAC preseason poll, while the Marist Red Foxes were unanimously selected as the preseason favorite for the third straight year.
ABOUT THE PEACOCKS
Junior captain
Olivia Christopher looks to lead the offense after posting the team's highest batting average last season at .371 through 48 starts. She also returns as the leading hitter with 62 hits. Her standout performance came against conference foe Merrimack, going 4-for-4 with two runs in the 7-2 victory.
Fellow captain
Taylor Montgomery recorded the team's longest hitting streak last season at nine games and saw her batting average climb as high as .417.
In the circle,
Ava White led the Peacocks with five wins, tossing complete games against Merrimack and Fairfield. The sophomore paced the pitching staff with 45 strikeouts through 109.0 innings.
Behind the plate,
Lauren Czerwinski anchored the defense with 163 putouts and a .960 fielding percentage.
The Peacocks brought in 11 new additions to the 2026 roster:
Summer Solitaria, Kiana Kadena Matsuda, Gabriella Rivera, Paige Seemon, Aine Curley, Ava Mormile, Danni Forrester, Cessi Prince, Angela Tremarco, Kayla Foy, and
Bella Nutting.
Saint Peter's also brings back 11 Peacocks in
Taylor Montgomery, Ava White, Lauren Czerwinski, Morgan Lipansky, Olivia Christopher, Brielle Coppola, Angelina Wagner, Steph Bendzlowicz, Hannah Klotz, Carlee Charles, and
Ashley Murphy.
Montgomery and Christopher return as team captains and will guide Saint Peter's through the 2026 season. Head coach
Alyssa Ruiz enters her second year at the helm, assisted by
Michael Suppa and
Ralph Suppa.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
NSU enters the matchup with a 5-3 record to begin the season. The Spartans split their opening weekend with CCSU and swept Rider. During their "Battle at the Bay" tournament, NSU went 2-2, falling on the first day to Maine and Stony Brook, but bounced back on day two, sweeping Quinnipiac and St. Francis.
Bristyl Riddick paces the squad with a .500 batting average, 1.633 OPS, and 1.091 slugging percentage. The sophomore has totalled 11 hits, seven runs, nine RBIs, and four homers through eight starts.
In the circle, junior Kailey Bryant has a 3-1 record and a 2.23 ERA through 22 innings pitched.
The Spartans are led by head coach Tatjana Matthews, who enters her first season.
ALL TIME RECORD
Last season, the Peacocks took game two of the three-game series during their opening weekend against the Spartans and currently sit 2-2 all-time.
In the victory,
Hannah Klotz paced the Peacocks, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Saint Peter's combined for nine hits and left 10 Spartans stranded in the 6-3 victory.
Ava White secured the win, pitching a complete game and tallying four strikeouts.
For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
