BOSTON – Suffolk softball jet set to the west coast to pull the curtain back on its 43rd campaign with four games awaiting the Rams when they land in California. The blue-and-gold's 2026 debut is set for Friday, Feb. 13 at Occidental with a Valentine's Day showdown against La Sierra on tap Saturday, Feb. 14. A twinbill at Claremont Mudd Scripps wraps up the trip Sunday, Feb. 15.  

SOCIALIZE
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on Facebook, Instagram and X. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

RAPID REWIND
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. 

RAMS ROOKIES
Suffolk softball will have a batch of new faces on its 2026 squad as six newcomers are set to join the fold, head coach Megan Cook announced.

The group is comprised of five true freshmen in Claire Basaldua, Roma Briad, Kendal Heyman, Talia Stein-Trujillo and Dana Still, and one transfer, junior Ava Lanza.

MORE READING: Half a Dozen Join Softball for 2026

RAMS RINGLEADERS
For the first time in her tenure, Suffolk softball head coach Megan Cook has named a core group of captains in upperclassmen Catherine Carignan, Lily Newhall and Jolie Quintana.  The group all begin their first season in the position and are the first Rams to earn the captain role since the trio of Ally Cifaratta, Savannah Scripter and Caitlin Murphy shared the role in 2023. 

MORE READING: Trio to Captain Softball in 2026 

GEOGRAPHY 101
Suffolk's geographical makeup spreads five states. Seven Rams are Massachusetts products with five from the Bay State's neighbor to the north, New Hampshire. There are two New Jersey products, while one one Ram flew in from Arizona and Washington. 

CLASS CATEGORIES
Suffolk's 16-player roster is a mixture of experience and energetic youth with five true freshmen and juniors, respectively, three seniors, two sophomores and one graduate student.

SKIPPERS SECTION
Megan Cook was announced as Suffolk softball's newest head coach in September 2023. She is the 12th head coach in the Rams' history and begins her third season at Suffolk in 2026.

Coach Cook is joined by sisters Amber Gibbons and Meghan Gibbons on the coaching staff.

LEADING OFF

• Since 1987, Suffolk is 8-29 in the first game of the season.
• Starting in 1995 the Rams took a neutral field on day one of the year and have picked up six of their opening day victories on neutral turf.
• The Rams are in search for their first opening-day victory since 2019 when Suffolk defeated Rhodes, 4-3.

TIGERS TID BITS

• Occidental had a double feature exhibition with La Sierra Sunday, Feb. 1 to prepare for the season. 
• The Tigers, who begin their campaign against Suffolk Friday, went 11-27 overall last year.
• Three-time All-SCIAC short stop Alysha Wagner paced Occidental at the plate with 41 hits including 10 multi-hit games behind a .336 batting average.  
• Outfielder Anna Kim produced 42 hits behind a .378 average in her first collegiate season with 13 RBI and 29 runs scored. 
• A year ago, the Tigers had a seven-twirlers staff combine for a 6.91 ERA, however, their ace Zada Day-Adams, graduated. 
• Sam Alfaro is the top returning arm with a 4.76 ERA over 57.1 innings over 12 appearances and nine starts.  

GOLDEN EAGLES GLANCE

• La Sierra sits 3-1 on the season after it swept a Nelson and split a double feature against California Lutheran. Prior to facing Suffolk Saturday, the Golden Eagles will take on Westcliff in a twinbill Friday. 
• Lead-off hitter Ayiana Cardenas has registered a game-high six hits through the first four games with two of those good for two bases. The short stop has brought in three runs and scored three herself. 
• Kassandra Guiterrez, who typically hits out of the nine-spot, has recorded five hits. 
• Tori Morton (1.00 ERA, 14.0 IP, 12 K) and Hanna Dobbs (3.18 ERA, 11.0 IP, 1 K) are the usual starting arms in the circle for the Golden Eagles.  

ATHENAS AND STAGS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• Claremont Mudd Scripps went 1-0-1 in a season-opening twinbill with McMurry Feb. 6. It won the opener, 2-0, and played to a 4-4 draw in the nightcap. 
• A three-game series with Pomona Pitzer precedes its double features with Suffolk Sunday. 
• The squad has produced 13 hits scattered across nine bats. 
• Alex Wedemyer led the way offensive with three hits, including one triple and two RBI. 
• Gisselle Lai and Rachel Sapirstein have tallied two hits each with the former scoring one run. 
• Pitcher Hannah Adams tossed a complete-game, four-hit, five-strikeout shutout in her lone appearance of the year. 
• Perri Derian (4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 6K) and Ella Yerkes (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 K) have seen time in the circle as well. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Occidental, La Sierra and Claremont Mudd Scripps are all first-time opponents for Suffolk.

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams return to New England to prep for their Spring Break trip to The Springs Games in Claremont, Florida, which begins Sunday, March 8.