BEVERLY, Mass. - The Conference of New England Softball season returns in 2026 after one of the most dramatic championship finishes in recent memory. Western New England University stunned Nichols College with an eighth-inning walk-off to secure a 1–0 victory and claim the 2025 CNE title. Meanwhile, 2025 top-seed Endicott College enters the new campaign motivated to return to the championship stage.
With proven contenders and rising challengers throughout the conference, the 2026 season promises another tightly contested race. Let's take a look at this year's field:
Curry College
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 15 | graduated: 5 | newcomers: 6)
2025 Results (17-21, 7-11 CNE) | 2025 Overall Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: 8th place
Coach Alex Campione has led the Colonels team to exactly 17 wins in each of the last three years, and will look to improve on that with a team that has 15 returning players.
The Colonels will need some players to step up, as they look to replace one of the best players in program history in Jillian Rogers, an all region player last season, both in the circle, and at the plate.
On offense, the team will look at junior Renee Gonneville, who was an all conference player her freshman year. Morgan Barmash will be a player to watch, after leading the team in hits (33), RBI (15), doubles (10), and batting average (.324( last season.
Endicott College
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 14 | graduated: 5 | newcomers: 5)
2024-25 Results (22-15, 14-4 CNE) | 2024-25 Overall Stats | Postseason Finish: Semifinal loss
This year's roster features five returning All-Conference of New England selections, highlighted by First Team honoree Abby McClaflin (Easthampton, Mass.). McClaflin led the team in batting average (.354), slugging percentage (.646), and on-base percentage (.435), while also tying for the conference lead with six home runs last season.
The Gulls welcome five new additions to this year's squad. Maddie Hartman (Rochester, N.H.), Maddie Beeley (Salem, N.H.), Alexa Gillis (Goffstown, N.H.), Catherine Seay (Marlborough, Mass.), Jeanise Serrano (Shelton, Conn.), and Caitlin Milner (Newton, N.H.) are set to make their debut this season.
Elyse Saccoccio (Coventry, R.I.) enters her junior year after a dominant sophomore season, hitting .327 with an impressive .469 on-base percentage. Alongside her is junior shortstop Mia Mitchell (Medford, Mass.), who anchored the defense with 57 putouts and 46 assists.
Kristen Beebe (Brentwood, N.H.) returns to the circle for her junior campaign. The right-hander posted a 2.73 earned run average (ERA) over 69.1 innings pitched. She recorded 81 strikeouts and held opponents to a .208 batting average.
The Blue and Green look to capture their 18th conference championship in program history, and first CNE Championship.
Gordon College
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 10 | graduated: 4 | newcomers: 13)
2025 Results (12-26, 4-14 CNE) | 2025 Overall Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: 9th place
Gordon returned 10 veterans and added 13 newcomers for the 2026 campaign. Caoimhe Wernsing earned All-CNE honors last spring after batting .346 with 28 base hits and 13 RBIs. Samantha Perkins ranked second on the team last year with 20 RBIs. In the pitcher’s circle, Emily Graham tossed 137.2 innings while recording 64 strikeouts.
Led by head coach Lily Rivera, Gordon begins the 2026 season March 6 against Marian and Norwich at THE Spring Games in Florida.
Johnson & Wales University
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster
2025 Results (29-17, 15-3 GNAC) | 2025 Statistics | 2025 Postseason Finish: GNAC Champions, NCAA Regionals
The JWU (Providence) softball team opens year two of the Laura Leonetti era off a 29-win campaign which landed them their second conference championship in four years. The Wildcats graduated GNAC Player of the Year Mackenzie Clee (.433 average, .49 OBS), along with top starter Katie Sched (14-8, 2.65 ERA) and slugging outfielder Caroline Amorelli (31 RBI). Senior all-conference performer Mady Lyons (13 HR, 54 RBI) solidifies the middle of the lineup, along with sophomore Morgan Pelletier (33 RBI) and junior Jessica Forneiro (26 RBI). Senior Jillian Reed (12-4, 2.64 ERA), along with junior Madi Wong and sophomore Hailey Cardiello, will eat up inning in the circle.
Nichols College
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 16 | graduated: 5 | newcomers: 6)
2025 Results (32-13, 12-6 CNE) | 2025 Statistics | 2025 Postseason Finish: Runner-up, loss to No. 3 WNE in CNE Championship (0-1 - 8 Innings)
The Nichols College Bison are fresh off their most successful season as a program, in which they advanced to their first-ever Conference of New England Championship game, despite narrowly falling to eventual winner Western New England in extra innings, 0-1. The Bison went 32-13 overall and 12-6 in conference play last year, and are aiming to improve upon that success under the guidance of 2025 CNE Coach of the Year, Caitlin Hitchcock.
Notable returners for the Bison include senior infielder Ava Slavinsky, who finished last season as the conference leader in total hits (63), while also occupying the top-five individually in batting average (.391). Classmate Allie Silliman is another notable returner at the plate, having also finished third conference-wide in hits (53) last season, and will join classmates Emily Iannuccilli and Bailey Littlefield as a captain this spring. In the circle, sophomore pitcher Molly Medor will look to build off her successful freshman season, where she held a 7-7 overall record with a 2.90 earned run average, and 71 strikeouts, while senior Olivia Pedro returns after missing 2025 with an injury. The Bison senior posted an 8-8 record, 47 strikeouts and a 2.80 ERA in 2024.
Roger Williams University
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (Returners: 11 | Graduated: 3 | Newcomers: 9)
2025 Results (24-18, 11-7 CNE) | 2025 Statistics | 2025 Postseason Finish: Semifinals (L 4-2 at No. 2 Nichols)
Roger Williams University returns key experience from the 2025 campaign, as they prep for 2026. Roger Williams brings back Shannon Starratt, who was named the CNE Player of the Year in 2025 while also earning NFCA Second Team All-Region Honors for the Hawks, after hitting .386 with a 1.109 OPS in 42 games, with 20 extra base hits and six home runs.
In the circle, the Hawks also return a pair of All-Conference performers, with Raegen Germano and Kiera Quadros earning Second and Third Team recognition, respectively. The Hawks duo posted a 2.74 and 3.02 ERA on the season, while pitching a combined 209.1 innings on the season with a combined 200 strikeouts between the duo.
In the outfield, Lucy Maurao returns after earning Third-Team CNE honors, hitting .336 with 39 base hits, 10 extra base hits, and 12 RBIs on the season, starting in 37 games for the Hawks.
Roger Williams will open their season on Friday, Mar. 6 at 10:00 am in Clermont Fla. against Chatham, before facing off against Hope, as they start their season with 10 games in Florida. The Hawks will open up their home slate on Wednesday, Mar. 18, at 3:00 pm before opening CNE action on the road on Saturday, Mar. 28, at Curry.
Suffolk University
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 10 | graduated: 6 | newcomers: 6)
2025 Results (16-22, 10-8 CNE) | 2025 Overall Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: CNE First Round, Fifth Seed
Suffolk softball returns a seasoned core under third-year head coach Megan Cook, looking to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish in the Conference of New England, where the Rams went 16-22 overall and 10-8 in league play.
Leading the way is a trio of 2025 All-CNE recipients. Catherine Carignan (first-team) posted a .352/.394/.477 slash line with 45 hits, 16 RBI, 25 runs, and seven stolen bases, Julia Mills (second-team) added a .352/.352/.456 line with 40 hits, 20 RBI, 17 runs, and a team-high 10 stolen bases. Lily Newhall (third-team) highlighted the pitching staff with a 2.91 ERA and 8-7 record over 105.2 innings while also hitting .302/.372/.478 with 28 hits, 14 RBI, and 13 runs.
University of Hartford
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 17 | graduated: 3 | newcomers: 5)
2025 Results (21-18-1, 8-9-1 CNE) | 2025 Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: 7th place
The University of Hartford Softball team is back for its second season in the Conference of New England (CNE) looking to avenge an uneven 2025 and make the CNE playoffs for the first time.
Mairin Dudek enters her fifth season as the head coach of the Hawks with an overall record of 79-75-2 in her prior four years at the helm. Dudek returns 17 student-athletes from the 2025 team including team captains senior Taylor Fitch (Andover, Conn.), senior Carly Mayhood (Newton, N.J.), sophomore Lucy Lembo (Albany, N.Y.) and senior Anita Farkash (Seaford, N.Y.).
Mayhood is set for a huge year as the senior ace has a career ERA of 2.64 and 176 strikeouts over 209.2 innings. Last season she was up and down with a 7-9 record with a 2.73 ERA and 72 punchouts. Senior Gia Miccio (Bellmore, N.Y.) is the most notable returning bat, slashing .309/.491/.377 (AVG/OBP/SLG) last season to go with nine doubles, four triples, a homer and 15 RBIs. Other key bats returning include Farkash and sophomore Ella Zobel (Clarence, N.Y.).
The Hawks kick off the 2026 season on March 7th at Framingham State University before heading to Florida for the Space Coast Spring Games. Hartford will host the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on March 22nd in the home opener.
University of New England
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 14 | graduated: 1 | newcomers: 6)
2025 Results (11-29, 3-15 CNE) | 2025 Overall Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: n/a
The University of New England and newly-fulltime 6th-year head coach Kim Lorenc bring back 81 percent of the team's at-bats and 70 percent of innings pitched from a year ago. Senior catcher Emma Koenig is a season removed from CNE third team honors, and batted .339 in 22 starts behind the plate in 2025. Junior second base Emma Michaud topped the squad with 38 hits and a .317 average, while junior shortstop Hannah Irons led the team in runs batted in (22), runs scored (21), doubles (8), home runs (4), and slugging percentage (.472), and junior catcher/third base Delaney Whitten had a .370 on-base percentage. Senior pitcher Kara MacDonald logged 100 innings with nine complete games from the circle, posting a 2.2 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.
Wentworth Institute of Technology
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 15 | newcomers: 5)
2025 Results (20-22, 9-9 CNE) | 2025 Overall Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: CNE Quarterfinal
Erica Castro enters her seventh season with the Leopards in the 2026 season. Wentworth finished the 2025 season with a 20-22 record and 9-9 mark in league action, making a CNE tournament quarterfinal appearance. The Leopards will see the return of 15 players, including seniors Kyla Igawa and Julie Schriver. Igawa hit .366 with a .488 slugging percentage last season with 25 RBI and 15 doubles while Schriver had a 7-5 record on the mound with a 4.02 ERA and 48 strikeouts.
Junior Bri Miller returns after recording 16 hits, 10 RBI, three doubles and three triples in 60 at bats last season. Miller hit .267 with a .417 slugging percentage. Also coming back for the Leopards are sophomores Lexi Lefkowski and Julia Malowitz. Lefkowski had a strong first year with 50 hits and 28 RBI in 142 plate appearances, hitting .352 with a .472 slugging percentage. Malowitz was key on the mound, tallying 50 strikeouts and one save in 93.2 innings. She finished the year with a 7-10 record and 4.56 ERA.
The Leopards also welcome five newcomers to the roster, looking to help get the team back into the postseason tournament. Wentworth opens the 2026 campaign on March 1, taking on Saint Vincent in Clermont, Florida.
Western New England University
2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 15 | graduated: 6 | newcomers: 10)
2025 Results (26-17-1, 11-6-1 CNE) | 2025 Overall Stats |
2025 Postseason Finish: CNE Champions
The reigning back-to-back conference champions return to Golden Bear Softball Park on the campus of Western New England University, eyeing another successful season under Head Coach Amanda Novak. Under Coach Novak last season, the team went 26-17-1, with an 11-6-1 record in the conference, before going unbeaten in the conference tournament and earning an NCAA tournament bid. The team does lose key seniors to graduation, but returns three of their five All-Conference players from 2025. Catcher Angelees Carasquillo, who earned Third Team recognition, will command the defense from behind the plate. Carasquillo played 43-44 games last season and led the team in walks and runs scored. Junior outfielder Marley Rodriguez also returns after earning first-team recognition last season for Rodriguez’s top-notch fielding and stellar offense, which saw Rodriguez end the season second in batting average (.340), first in hits (49), first in doubles (14), and tied for second in RBIs (22) on the team.
Senior leadership will be key for the Golden Bears, with Senior Riley Kane leading the way. Kane was named as a First Team All-Conference designated player last season, as well as Second Team All-Conference as a pitcher. Kane led the Golden Bears at the plate with a .373 batting average, a .988 OPS, and a .527 slugging percentage. Kane also led the team from the pitching circle with a 2.42 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 14 wins, 14 complete games, and 2 strikeouts. Kane is joined on the field by fellow senior leader Shea McDaniel, who tied for the lead at WNE in triples and was fourth on the team in total bases.
The Golden Bears open the 2026 season at The Spring Games, playing in 12 games before the home opener on Wednesday, March 18 against Wheaton College (Mass.).