Upcoming Event: Softball versus North Carolina on February 6, 2026 at 5 p.m.
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5 p.m.
James Madison
vs North Carolina
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Softball Rolls Out 2026 Schedule
12/17/2025 12:00:00 PM | Softball
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison softball Head Coach Loren LaPorte officially announced the Dukes' 2026 schedule on Wednesday afternoon.
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The schedule features 54 games and is made up of five non-conference tournaments, eight Sun Belt Conference series, 19Â home games at Bank of the James Field at Veterans Memorial Park, and eight games against power four opponents.
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"Our players and staff are extremely excited about the 2026 schedule!" LaPorte said. "We believe that to be the best, you must compete against the best, and this lineup will challenge us in new and meaningful ways. When building the schedule, our focus was on preparing ourselves as thoroughly as possible for conference play and positioning the team to make a strong push late in the season. Challenging ourselves early will show us who we are, and I'm looking forward to watching this group compete."Â
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JMU will open the season on the road at the Elon Softball Classic Feb. 6-8 in Elon, N.C., and the 2026 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational in Clearwater, Fla., which runs from Feb.13-15 and features games against 2025 Women's College World Series participants Tennessee and Texas Tech. Â
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After a third straight week on the road at the ECU Invitational in Greenville, N.C., on Feb. 20-22, the Dukes will make their home debut to host the JMU Invitational from Feb. 27 to March 1 at Bank of the James Field at Veterans Memorial Park.
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Following non-conference play, JMU begins Sun Belt Conference play on the road at Georgia Southern (March 13-15). The Dukes will also play conference road series against Southern Miss (April 2-4), App State (April 17-19), and Marshall (April 30-May 2). Â
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The home conference slate begins with a 2025 Sun Belt title rematch against Coastal Carolina (March 20-21). JMU will also host West Division foes South Alabama (March 27-29) and Louisiana (April 10-12) at VMP, along with a series against Georgia State (April 24-26).
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Marquee home matchups against Michigan (March 4), Liberty (March 10), and Virginia (March 17) highlight the home March midweek slate. JMU will also play midweek road games at George Mason (March 25), a doubleheader at Georgetown (April 15), and Virginia (April 21).
The 2026 Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship will take place May 6-9 in Lafayette, La., on the campus of Louisiana at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
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JMU's 2026 softball season is presented by Lakeside Book Company. The full schedule can be found here.Â
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The schedule features 54 games and is made up of five non-conference tournaments, eight Sun Belt Conference series, 19Â home games at Bank of the James Field at Veterans Memorial Park, and eight games against power four opponents.
Â
"Our players and staff are extremely excited about the 2026 schedule!" LaPorte said. "We believe that to be the best, you must compete against the best, and this lineup will challenge us in new and meaningful ways. When building the schedule, our focus was on preparing ourselves as thoroughly as possible for conference play and positioning the team to make a strong push late in the season. Challenging ourselves early will show us who we are, and I'm looking forward to watching this group compete."Â
Â
JMU will open the season on the road at the Elon Softball Classic Feb. 6-8 in Elon, N.C., and the 2026 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational in Clearwater, Fla., which runs from Feb.13-15 and features games against 2025 Women's College World Series participants Tennessee and Texas Tech. Â
Â
After a third straight week on the road at the ECU Invitational in Greenville, N.C., on Feb. 20-22, the Dukes will make their home debut to host the JMU Invitational from Feb. 27 to March 1 at Bank of the James Field at Veterans Memorial Park.
Â
Following non-conference play, JMU begins Sun Belt Conference play on the road at Georgia Southern (March 13-15). The Dukes will also play conference road series against Southern Miss (April 2-4), App State (April 17-19), and Marshall (April 30-May 2). Â
Â
The home conference slate begins with a 2025 Sun Belt title rematch against Coastal Carolina (March 20-21). JMU will also host West Division foes South Alabama (March 27-29) and Louisiana (April 10-12) at VMP, along with a series against Georgia State (April 24-26).
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Marquee home matchups against Michigan (March 4), Liberty (March 10), and Virginia (March 17) highlight the home March midweek slate. JMU will also play midweek road games at George Mason (March 25), a doubleheader at Georgetown (April 15), and Virginia (April 21).
The 2026 Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship will take place May 6-9 in Lafayette, La., on the campus of Louisiana at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
Â
JMU's 2026 softball season is presented by Lakeside Book Company. The full schedule can be found here.Â
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