KANSAS CITY, MO – The University of the Cumberlands softball team will open the 2026 campaign ranked seventh in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced by the national office Wednesday afternoon. The Patriots earned a top-10 national ranking for the third consecutive season and have now appeared in 13 straight national polls. 

The Patriots are coming off another standout season in 2025, highlighted by winning the Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship and advancing to the NAIA World Series for the third straight year. UC posted another 40-plus win season, continuing its rise as one of the premier softball programs in the NAIA. 

The 2026 season marks a new era under Head Coach Bruce Lenington, who was named to lead the Patriots in June. Lenington inherits a program rich in talent and tradition, returning a strong core of contributors and adding several promising newcomers to the roster. The Patriots are set to build upon their championship momentum and make another deep postseason run. 

Southern Oregon, the defending national champion, opens the season ranked No. 1 with 17 first-place votes, followed by Oklahoma City, Eastern Oregon, and Georgia Gwinnett. Cumberlands sits seventh nationally, while Marian (Ind.), Grand View (Iowa), Central Methodist (Mo.), Science & Arts (Okla.), and Oregon Tech complete the top 10. 

Cumberlands will open the 2026 season on Friday, February 6, at the UC Softball Complex in Williamsburg, Ky., as they begin their pursuit of another conference title and national championship run. 

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