Elisa Ayungua

2026 Softball Season Preview

2/17/2026 3:00:00 PM

GAMBIER, Ohio – One of the most improved NCAA Division III programs over the last three seasons, the Kenyon College Owls look to continue the upward trend in the upcoming 2026 campaign. The team returns six starting position players and three starting pitchers for a schedule that looks a bit different than previous seasons. The 2026 slate starts with four games in Kentucky, then four in North Carolina, and two in Indiana before the team heads to Hawaii for an eight-game trip. When the team returns home, its new turf infield should be ready for play.

2025 Review
After improving by 14 wins from 2023 to 2024, the Owls tacked on four more wins in 2025 and posted a 19-15 record, which included a 4-10 mark in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play. The team started strong, with an 11-3 record through its first 14 games and a 14-4 mark through its first 18. The team hit a rough patch with six straight conference losses, but bounced back by splitting its final 10 games of the season. The 2025 club set the program's single-season records for team batting average (.333) and most triples (19), while the pitching staff ranked third in program history with an average of 4.65 strikeouts per game.

Coaching Staff
The coaching staff from the 2025 campaign returns intact. Head coach Emily Miller is back for her fifth season with the program, including her fourth as head coach. Her team limped through a transition year in 2023, but gained traction in each of Miller's next two seasons, posting a combined total of 34 wins and posting top-10 program marks for both batting and pitching team statistics. Joining Miller on the bench for their second season together is assistant coach Riley Zana, who was hired prior to the 2025 season after a four-year playing career at Coastal Carolina University.

NCAC Preseason Poll
Kenyon's 4-10 record in conference play last season did not impress coaches, who predicted the Owls to finish seventh in the 2026 NCAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Kenyon team collected 13 points in the poll, just ahead of last-place Oberlin College, which had eight points, and just behind sixth-place John Carroll University, which totaled 21 points. Six-time defending NCAC champion DePauw University got six first-place votes and topped the poll with 48 points. Denison University, which tied DePauw for the 2025 title, got two first place votes and 43 points. Wittenberg University was third with 37 points, followed by The College of Wooster (30), and Ohio Wesleyan University (24).

Returning All-Conference Honorees
The 2026 Owls have three all-conference honorees in their lineup, with each one earning the recognition in different seasons. In 2023, Maeve McLaughlin, now a senior outfielder, was awarded a spot in the All-NCAC Second Team. In 2024, Keala Montgomery, now a junior utility player, took a spot on the All-NCAC Third Team. Last season, Kylie Hamm, now a junior pitcher, claimed a spot in the 2025 All- NCAC Third Team. McLaughlin put up a .320 batting average a season ago, while Montgomery has a .357 average over her first two seasons at Kenyon. In the pitcher's circle, Hamm logged nearly 100 innings in 2025, posted a 2.94 earned run average and struck out 64.

Returning Statistical Leaders
     Kenyon lost its top two bats, in terms of batting average, but the team does return a quartet of .300 hitters in Montgomery, McLaughlin, Madison Buckwalter, and Brooke Avila. Of that group, Montgomery had the best average (.353), while also leading the team in hits (41), doubles (10, triples (7), and runs scored (35). On the base paths, Montgomery and Avila tied for the team lead with 14 stolen bases apiece.
     Among pitchers, Hamm returns as the team's ace. She topped the team's statistical charts for ERA (2.94) and strikeouts (64). Izzy Akin picked up a team-best two saves as a first-year last season and Allison McCutchen, now a senior, tied Hamm for the team lead with five pitching wins. McCutchen, who worked strictly in a relief role, posted a 2.33 ERA and held opponents to a .217 batting average throughout 18 innings of work.

Schedule Overview
Season Opener: Saturday, February 21 at Centre College (3:00 p.m.)
Home Opener: Sunday, March 22 vs. Otterbein University (1:00 p.m.)
NCAC Opener: Saturday, March 28, vs. John Carroll University (1:00 p.m.)

How to Follow
Fans can follow Kenyon softball throughout the season via the following links:
Live coverage (stats and video) - https://athletics.kenyon.edu/live
Twitter and Instagram - @KenyonSports
YouTube - @KenyonAthletics

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