By: Colton Steiner, Livestream and E-Sports Coordinator
BLUFFTON, OHio - The 2026 season is on the horizon and the Bluffton University softball squad is ready to get back on the field under the direction of Head Coach Paige Jansen and Assistant Coach Mitchell Baker. After finishing the 2025 season with a 15-23 record and a 5-13 mark in the conference, the Beavers were able to close out the season winning three of their last four games, including a two-game sweep of Franklin at home, winning 13-12 in game one and 4-3 in game two.
Despite losing Mia McCartney, Hayley Lewis, Lindsey Barnes and Kaleigh Michael to graduation, Bluffton returns a plethora of experience for the upcoming season. Senior Kaylee Grant (Lima/Shawnee) brings her leadership to the Beavers with a team-best .376 batting average and 20 runs batted in. Grant was able to smash four home runs, which led the team in 2025. Also returning to the lineup is senior Julia Tegeder (Hamilton) who hit .351 at the plate in 24 games while driving home 13 RBIs and recording 12 runs. Also back is senior Hailey Lennard (North Baltimore), who appeared in 22 games last season and brings three years of collegiate playing experience to the middle infield.
Returning for her junior campaign is outfielder Taryn Hampton (Fostoria/Hopewell Loudon), who batted .331 while recording 20 RBIs and a team-high 39 hits last year. Joining her is fellow classmate Ella McCombs (Springfield/Southeastern) who recorded a team-high 25 runs in 2025 while smacking 30 hits and netting an on base percentage of .348. Both players were active on the bases with Hampton recording five stolen bases and McCombs leading with six.
After a freshman campaign where she recorded an on-base percentage of .422 and an average of .329 at the plate, Reagen O'Brien (Bellbrook) returns for her sophomore year with hopes of continuing to make an impact at the plate. Also coming back is outfielder Tianna Galbraith (Wayne/Elmwood), who scored 10 runs in her 20 games, recording an OBP of .356.
Returning to Bluffton for her third year is Colleen Meese (Rocky River), who was a key contributor on the hill, recording an ERA of 6.89 and finishing with a record of 2-4 in 15 appearances. Halee McDade (Oxford/Talawanda) returns for her junior season after appearing in 22 games as a sophomore. She can play both 1st base and 3rd base, giving Bluffton flexibility with its lineup.
Grace Gronberg (Danville) returns after her debut season included superlative work on the mound and at the plate. The 2026 sophomore went 7-12 with an ERA of 4.76 and 112 strikeouts in 117.2 innings of work. At the plate, Gronberg smacked 21 hits and drove in a team-high 26 runs.
Bluffton kicks off the 2026 campaign with a week in Florida before traveling to Heidelberg on Wed., March 18. They will then face off against Kenyon at 1 p.m. in their home opener on Sat., March 21, before kicking off Heartland Conference action one week later on Sat., March 28, when they host Earlham with a 1 p.m. start time. The Beavers will then close out their regular season with a home contest against Rose-Hulman on May 2.
The Beavers take on Johnson & Wales at 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 1, from Clermont, Fla., before an 11:15 a.m. meeting with Chatham.
-BEAVERS-