Michigan State Softball: Veterans and Freshmen Alike Earning Big Ten Preseason Recognition
There’s a buzz building in East Lansing, and it’s not just the anticipation of opening day. Michigan State softball landed six players on the Big Ten’s preseason Players to Watch list, a mix of proven veterans and high-upside freshmen that gives the Spartans a strong foundation heading into the 2026 season.
Let’s start with the seniors who’ve already made their mark in Spartan green. Britain Beshears and Macy Hawley are two of the most dangerous bats in the MSU lineup - and the numbers back it up. These two have been launching softballs out of the park at a historic pace, each securing a spot among the program’s top 10 all-time home run hitters.
Hawley, in particular, had a standout 2025 campaign. She led the Spartans with 11 home runs, good for eighth on MSU’s single-season list, and added 39 hits - second-most on the team.
Over just two seasons in East Lansing, she’s racked up 23 homers, placing her ninth all-time in career bombs at MSU. She’s also been a model of consistency, starting all 95 games since arriving on campus, and leads all active Spartans with 90 hits and 50 RBI.
Beshears brings just as much pop to the plate. With 24 career home runs, she’s tied for sixth in the MSU record books.
Her sophomore season was a slugging showcase - 15 home runs, the second-highest single-season total in program history. She enters 2026 as the team’s active leader in RBI (67) and ranks second in base hits (78), while slugging at a .534 clip.
She’s played in 117 career games, including 94 consecutive starts over the past two seasons.
Then there’s Kirsten Caravaca, who’s new to the Spartan roster but far from new to high-level competition. After three strong years at North Florida, Caravaca brings both offensive production and defensive reliability behind the plate.
In 2025, she started 59 of 61 games for the Ospreys, slashing .345/.491 with 57 hits - including 12 doubles, three triples, and a pair of home runs - while driving in 34 runs. And defensively?
She’s rock solid, committing just seven errors over three seasons. That kind of experience and steadiness is going to be a huge asset for a Spartan team looking to take the next step.
While the upperclassmen provide the backbone, the future of the program looks bright thanks to a trio of freshmen already turning heads. Zoie Bernard, Alyssa Galindo, and Alex Starr were all named to the Big Ten Freshman Watch List by Softball America.
Bernard, a highly touted recruit out of Tennessee, also earned national recognition with a spot on D1 Softball’s D100 Freshman Watch List - a nod to the top Division I newcomers across the country. She came into college ranked No. 26 overall in her class by Line Drive Media.
Starr, a right-hander from Texas, was labeled the No. 5 pitcher in the 2025 class by Extra Innings Softball. She and Galindo are part of a revamped pitching staff that includes four new arms, signaling a fresh chapter for MSU in the circle.
With a mix of battle-tested veterans and freshmen already drawing national attention, Michigan State isn’t just looking to compete - they’re building something. The pieces are in place. Now it’s about putting it all together on the field.