FARMINGTON, Utah (Feb. 17, 2026) – Week three of the 2026 Big Sky softball season kicks off on Thursday with a pair of games as teams around the league travel for another full weekend of games.
Big Sky Softball Weekly Notes (Week 3)
Marsh Named Big Sky Softball Player of the Week
Senior Katie Marsh helped lead Sacramento State to a 4-1 record at the GCU Invite in Phoenix. The catcher hit safely in all five games, had at least one RBI in every game, and homered in each of the final three games of the tournament. Over five games, Marsh hit .500 (8-for-16) with five runs, three homers, a triple and 10 RBIs. She averaged 2.0 RBIs per contest, slugged 1.188, posted an OPS of 1.697, and tallied 19 total bases.
She had multiple-hit games in three of the contests, multiple-RBIs in four of the games, and posted an extra base hit in all but one game. In three wins over South Dakota, she combined to go 6-for-10 with seven RBIs against the Coyotes. The Susanville, Calif., native also had a triple and two RBIs vs. 27th-ranked Grand Canyon, and went 1-for-3 with a homer against Harvard.
Others Nominated for Softball Player of the Week
Sydney Groves (ISU), Anna Cockhill (UM), Amailee Morales (UNC), Grace Johnson (PSU)
Bacon Named Big Sky Softball Pitcher of the Week
Senior Kennedie Bacon helped the Hornets to a 4-1 record at the GCU Invite. In two starts, the right-hander went 2-0 with a 0.58 ERA, which included a five-hit shutout of Harvard. In 12.0 innings, Bacon allowed just eight hits (seven singles) and one run with eight strikeouts. Opponents hit .182 when she was in the circle, and Bacon was part of a staff that posted a 2.03 ERA during the tournament.
In the Hornets’ 1-0 win over Harvard, she allowed five hits (all singles) with five strikeouts over seven innings. She induced 13 ground-ball outs, and retired 12 straight batters between the third and seventh innings.
In the team’s five-inning 9-1 mercy rule win over South Dakota, Bacon allowed three hits and a run with three strikeouts in five innings.
Others Nominated for Softball Pitcher of the Week
Kasey Aquinaga (ISU), Anna Wilming (UNC), Gracie Walters (PSU)
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Idaho State (5) - 25
2. Weber State - 19
3. Sacramento State (1) - 18
4. Northern Colorado - 14
5. Portland State - 9
6. Montana - 5
*() Indicates first place votes
Brown Headlines Inaugural Preseason All-Conference Team
Idaho State's Ava Brown headlines the Preseason All-Conference Team, earning preseason MVP honors. Brown led the league a season ago in home runs (25) and RBIs (66). The 2025 Big Sky Player of the Year's 25 home runs last year set a single-season conference record.
The Bengals have five members on the Preseason All-Conference Team, the most of any other school. Kasey Aguinaga and Lizzy Tommasini are two of those members who played a crucial role in Idaho State's defensive efforts in the circle last season. The Bengals surrendered a league-low 231 runs a season ago behind a pitching staff that secured 37 wins.
Defending tournament champions Weber State also has five members on the Preseason All-Conference squad. The Wildcats will look to senior third baseman Abby Grundy and reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year Sadie Kirk to lead the Wildcats on both sides of the ball.
2026 Big Sky Softball Preseason All-Conference Team
Catcher: Jenna Kearns, Idaho State*
Catcher: Katie Marsh, Sacramento State*
First Base: Amailee Morales, Northern Colorado
Second Base: Sadie Kirk, Weber State
Shortstop: Krista Francia, Northern Colorado*
Shortstop: Taegan Smith, Weber State*
Third Base: Katie Walling, Northern Colorado*
Third Base: Madison Evers-Lyles, Sacramento State*
Third Base: Abby Grundy, Weber State*
Outfield: Ava Brown, Idaho State (Preseason MVP)
Outfield: Alyssa Yee, Idaho State
Outfield: Lafulafu Malepeai, Sacramento State
Pitcher: Kasey Aguinaga, Idaho State*
Pitcher: Lizzy Tommasini, Idaho State*
Pitcher: Anna Wilming, Northern Colorado*
Pitcher: Alexa Ortiz, Sacramento State*
Pitcher: Cali McCraw: Weber State*
Pitcher/Utility: Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung, Portland State
Non-Pitcher/Utility: Riley Whalen, Weber State
* Indicates tie for position
Weber State Seeks to Repeat as Tournament Champions in 2025
Weber State, who earned its fifth tournament crown last season after winning the Big Sky Championship, will look to defend its title this year as the Wildcats set their sights on another tourney crown. Weber State recorded a win in an elimination game against Binghamton in the Eugene regional.
The win marks the school’s and conference’s second win the NCAA softball tournament. The lone other win came in 2019 when Weber State defeated Cal State Fullerton.
Pocatello Tabbed as Host City for 2026 Big Sky Tournament
The 2026 Big Sky Softball Championship will be held May 4-7 at Idaho State’s Softball Field in Pocatello, Idaho. All six Big Sky softball teams will advance to the double-elimination tournament. The tournament champion will earn the Big Sky’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
2026 Big Sky Softball Schedule (Week 3)
Thursday, Feb. 19
Sacramento State at Cal Poly // 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Sacramento State at Cal Poly // 5:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Friday, Feb. 20
Weber State vs UC Davis // 10:00 a.m. MT
Sacramento State vs Manhattan // 10:30 a.m. MT
Idaho State vs Utah Valley // 10:30 a.m. MT
UC Santa Barbara vs Montana // 11:30 a.m. MT
Stephen F. Austin vs Northern Colorado // 12:00 p.m. MT
Sacramento State vs San Jose State // 3:30 p.m. MT
Northern Colorado at UTSA // 5:00 p.m. MT
Montana at Grand Canyon // 5:00 p.m. MT (MW Network)
Idaho State vs Valparaiso // 7:00 p.m. MT
Saturday, Feb. 21
UMass Lowell vs Northern Colorado // 9:30 a.m. MT
Weber State vs UC Davis // 10:00 a.m. MT
Sacramento State vs Pacific // 10:30 a.m. MT
Montana vs San Diego // 10:30 a.m. MT
Weber State vs CSU Bakersfield // 12:30 p.m. MT
Northern Colorado vs TBA // 2:30 p.m. MT
Idaho State at UNLV // 4:00 p.m. MT
Sunday, Feb. 22
Northern Colorado vs TBA // TBA
Montana vs North Florida // 9:00 a.m. MT
Weber State vs CSU Bakersfield // 10:00 a.m. MT
Idaho State vs Valparaiso // 10:30 a.m. MT
Weber State at Utah Tech // 12:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State vs Merrimack // 1:00 p.m. MT
Montana at Grand Canyon // 2:30 p.m. MT (MW Network)
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