Spartan Softball: What to Know as Michigan State Opens 2026 Season
Michigan State softball is gearing up for its 54th season with a roster that blends experience, power, and a fresh influx of talent. The Spartans head to Clearwater, Florida, from Feb. 6-8 to kick off the 2026 campaign, and there’s plenty of reason for fans to be locked in from the first pitch.
A Historic Season Ahead
This year isn’t just another season-it marks the 50th anniversary of Michigan State’s 1976 AIAW National Championship, the first national title ever won by a women’s team at the university. That legacy looms large, and the 2026 squad will look to honor it with a season that builds on recent momentum.
A Loaded Schedule Right Out of the Gate
MSU isn’t easing into the season. The Spartans will play 18 games against eight opponents who are either ranked or receiving votes in the NFCA preseason poll.
That includes a tough opening weekend in Clearwater, where they’ll face (RV) Auburn and No. 13 Clemson-two early tests that should offer a clear barometer of where this team stands.
Leadership Group Set
Captains for 2026 were selected by team vote, and the group reflects a strong core of leadership. Seniors Britain Beshears, Kirsten Caravaca, and Sydney Doloszycki join junior Hannah Greer to lead the squad. It’s a mix of veteran presence and new energy, with Caravaca stepping into a leadership role just months after transferring in.
Power at the Plate
If there's one thing MSU has done consistently well the past two seasons, it’s hit the long ball. The Spartans launched 50 home runs in 2024-tied for third-most in program history-and followed that with 49 in 2025, good for fifth all-time. That kind of power production has become a hallmark of this squad.
Leading the charge are seniors Britain Beshears and Hannah Hawley, two of the most dangerous bats in the Big Ten. Hawley has put together back-to-back seasons with double-digit home runs-12 as a sophomore and 11 last year-making her the first Spartan to do so since Lea Foerster in 2017-18. Her 23 career homers rank ninth in program history.
Right ahead of her? Teammate Beshears, who sits in a three-way tie for sixth with 24 career bombs.
She hit eight last season after a monster sophomore campaign where she went deep 15 times-second-most in a single season in MSU history. This duo gives the Spartans a legitimate threat in the heart of the order every time they step to the plate.
Doloszycki: The Steady Veteran
Sydney Doloszycki is one of just two seniors who’ve spent their entire college careers in East Lansing, and her consistency has been a rock for the program. She started all 44 games she played in 2025 and has started 105 of 111 games over three seasons.
Last year, she led the team in at-bats (131), doubles (7), and shared the RBI lead (29). She also added nine home runs and seven sac hits, showing her ability to contribute in multiple ways.
A Key Addition: Kirsten Caravaca
Caravaca arrives from North Florida and wasted no time earning the respect of her new teammates, being voted a captain before playing a game in Green & White. She brings a potent bat and a championship pedigree, having hit .345 with 12 doubles, three triples, two homers, and 34 RBI for the ASUN champs last season. She’s expected to be a major contributor right away.
Pitching Staff: Youth Meets Experience
The Spartans return two key arms in sophomores who led the team in innings pitched last season (93.0 and 64.2, respectively). They’ll be joined by junior transfers Autumn Behlke and Natalie Lower, who bring valuable experience to the circle.
But keep an eye on the freshmen. Alex Starr and Alyssa Galindo were both named to the Softball America Big Ten Freshmen to Watch preseason list. That’s not just hype-these are players with the talent to make an immediate impact.
The Bottom Line
This is a Michigan State team with a strong returning core, legitimate power in the lineup, and a pitching staff that blends experience and upside. With a challenging schedule and a milestone anniversary as backdrop, the 2026 season has the potential to be a special one in East Lansing. The road starts in Clearwater, but the Spartans have their eyes on something much bigger.