Owls Softball Picked Second in MASCAC Poll

WESTFIELD., Mass. –   Westfield State University softball is picked to finish second in the conference, according to the preseason poll of the league's coaches released today.

Westfield finished the 2025 season with a 32-11 record, setting a program record for wins and the Owls won the MASCAC regular-season title, but were bounced from the conference tournament in the semifinal round.

After winning the tournament title in 2025, Worcester State has been tabbed by the conference coaches to repeat as the 2026 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Champions. 

The Lancers ended the MASCAC regular season with a 9-5 mark and claimed the tournament crown. Returning for the team is Bella Gasborro who hit at a .390 clip with a .581 slugging percentage, 14 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 31 RBI, 26 runs scored and 10 walks to grab a spot on the All-Conference team.

Westfield earned three first-place votes in the poll.

The Owls return 3B Hannah Wodecki received All-Conference honors for the second time after leading the league with 37 runs batted in, and broke her own program record with 63 hits in 2025. She finished with a .435 batting average, 40 runs, scored, 15 doubles, two triples and four home runs.  

The Owls return a potent heart of the batting order alongside Wodecki with all-conference catcher Mia Alfonso, all-conference OF Kassidy LaTour, and senior SS Sarah Hough.  That quartet combined for 17 home runs and 137 runs batted in a  year ago.

Westfield will need to replace the 96 innings pitched from 2025 pitcher of the year Katherine Canty.  Canty pitched to a 1.60 ERA, and posted a 13-4 record. 

The Owls return junior Joss Mettey (8-3, 2.23) and sophomore Angelina Vartuli (4-3, 2.30) to the pitcher's circle.

Westfield is slated to start the 2026 season on March 12 against Rochester Institute of Technology at North Collier Park in Naples, Fla. as part of an 11-game trip.

Around the rest of the league:

Framingham State is third with the final first place vote. The Rams were 10-4 during the conference slate. Eliza Carignan earned 2025 All-MASCAC honors after batting .347 with 13 runs scored, 42 hits, including 12 doubles with 33 RBI, 14 walks and a home run.

Sitting in fourth is Salem State who was 5-8 last season and bring back reigning Rookie of the Year Tara Perryman who led the Vikings with a .437 batting average, seven doubles, 21 RBI, 13 runs scored, 38 total hits, seven walks and a .495 on-base percentage in her first season with the team.

Bridgewater State lands in fifth. The Bears were 8-6 last season and look to Sydney Schaefer in 2026 after she batted .317, .587 slugging percentage, 21 runs scored, 17 doubles, a triple, three home runs, 32 RBI, 14 walks and seven stolen bases.

MCLA and Mass. Maritime are next in sixth and seventh, respectively. For the Trailblazers, utility Hailey Peabody returns as a versatile component for the team, batting .410 with 30 runs scored, seven doubles, four triples, 27 RBI while collecting three wins in the circle. For the Buccaneers, Kelsey Booker was first in the MASCAC in batting average (.469), slugging percentage (.779), home runs (6), second in RBI (37) and third in on-base percentage (.519) to grab a spot on the 2025 All-Conference squad.

Rounding out the 2026 poll in eighth and ninth are Fitchburg State and Anna Maria, respectively. For the Falcons, Jessica Mueller batted .369 with 38 hits, 13 doubles, a triple, a home run, 19 RBI, 17 runs scored and a .544 slugging percentage and returns this season. For the AMCATS, they look to Ella Moon who posted a .300 batting average with 27 hits, including seven doubles, two triples, and a home run, while drawing 16 walks. Drove in 13 RBIs and recorded a .417 on-base percentage and a .456 slugging percentage.

The MASCAC softball squads begin their 2026 season over the next few weeks with conference action starting on March 28.  

2026 MASCAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Worcester State (5) - 60 points

2. Westfield State (3) - 58 points

3. Framingham State (1) - 52 points

4. Salem State - 41 points

5. Bridgewater State - 39 points

6. MCLA - 26 points

7. Massachusetts Maritime - 21 points

8. Fitchburg State - 14 points

9. Anna Maria - 13 points