Boston College softball is staying in the Sunshine State this week, continuing its early-season road swing at the Fonseca Memorial Tournament in Tampa, Florida. Hosted by South Florida, the three-day event will see the Eagles face a mix of tested programs and fresh starts, including Kansas, DePaul, Yale, Indiana State, and the host Bulls at USF Softball Stadium.
A Deeper Look at the Competition
Kansas comes in hot after opening its season at the USF-Rawlings Invitational with a pair of run-rule wins over Bethune-Cookman and Illinois State. The Jayhawks racked up 25 runs in those two games and followed that up with a solid 5-2 midweek win over FGCU. In the circle, Chloe Barber stood out with an eight-strikeout outing against Michigan, showcasing the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that can change a game.
DePaul is riding a wave of early momentum. The Blue Demons opened 2026 with a 6-0 weekend and swept the BIG EAST Weekly Awards.
Jolie Adams was locked in at the plate, hitting .556 with four extra-base hits and six RBIs. On the mound, Hannah Messer was nearly untouchable-posting a 0.40 ERA over 17.1 innings with 17 strikeouts and a .177 opponent batting average.
Addy Poe added some spark of her own, hitting .421 with eight RBIs and an inside-the-park homer to go along with a perfect defensive showing.
Yale, meanwhile, is just getting started. The Bulldogs open their season against Boston College, coming off a 2025 campaign in which they went 19-27 and finished sixth in the Ivy League. While they’ll be looking to find their rhythm, BC will aim to take advantage of a team still shaking off the offseason rust.
South Florida has already made some noise this season, notching back-to-back run-rule wins over Kansas and Bethune-Cookman. The Bulls have outscored opponents 22-4 in their two victories, and their pitching has been lights-out.
McKenna Schroding enters the weekend tied for first in the nation with a 0.00 ERA and ranks among the national leaders in WHIP at 0.50. USF also swept Delaware in a midweek doubleheader, both wins coming via shutout.
Indiana State arrives in Tampa after a solid showing at the Stetson Tournament. The Sycamores opened their season with a shutout win over UT Martin and added a 7-3 victory over Seton Hall, thanks to a balanced offensive effort and steady pitching. Madison Poulson and Mallory Chavez led the charge, combining timely hitting with some pop and run production that could pose a challenge for BC’s arms.
Boston College’s Opening Weekend Recap
The Eagles kicked off their 2026 campaign at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, finishing 2-3 against a tough field featuring multiple national contenders. It was a weekend of firsts for a young but promising squad, and perhaps most notably, it marked the first win in maroon and gold for head coach Beth Krysiak.
Abby Ptak wasted no time getting the offense going-she launched the team’s first home run of the season and led the Eagles in RBIs. Freshman Emily Van Cleef picked up her first collegiate win in a 3-1 victory over Longwood, while Kelly Colleran struck out six in the season-opening win over EKU.
Halie Pappion locked down her first career save, and several freshmen made immediate contributions. Emma Knight delivered an RBI double in her first career at-bat, while Nicole Riddell recorded her first collegiate hit with a single up the middle in her debut start.
Pitching Staff Steps Up
BC used seven pitchers over the first five games, and the early returns were encouraging.
Van Cleef posted a 2.63 ERA in her first weekend of college ball, going 1-0 over 8.0 innings. She allowed just four hits and three runs while striking out six and holding opponents to a .138 batting average-good enough to earn all-tournament honors.
Colleran led the staff in strikeouts with seven over 7.0 innings and went 1-1 across two appearances. Her ability to provide length in the circle will be key as the season rolls on.
Pappion gave the Eagles a steady presence out of the bullpen. In 6.0 innings across two appearances, she struck out five, held opponents to a .217 average, and picked up a save-exactly the kind of reliability you want from your relief corps.
Offensive Standouts
Abby Ptak was the engine of the offense in Clearwater. She hit .400 with a 1.105 OPS, collecting six hits-including a homer-while driving in four runs and scoring five. Her .667 slugging percentage and .438 OBP made her a tough out all weekend and set the tone for the lineup.
Sammy Horn was steady on both sides of the ball. Defensively, she was flawless-15 putouts, nine assists, zero errors.
At the plate, she hit .333 with a .745 OPS, driving in a run and reaching base at a .412 clip. That kind of all-around performance brings real value, especially in early-season tournament play where depth and consistency are tested.
What’s Next
With five games on tap in three days, the Fonseca Memorial Tournament will be another early-season measuring stick for Boston College. Between high-powered offenses, dominant pitching, and a few unknowns, the Eagles will need to lean on their growing chemistry, emerging freshman class, and the leadership of players like Ptak and Horn to navigate a demanding weekend slate.
If the opening weekend was any indication, this team has the tools-it’s just a matter of putting it all together.