The 2026 NCAA Softball season is right around the corner and the Florida Atlantic Owls are more than ready to return to the diamond. The Owls flew through the 2025 season, which featured a 45-12 record, alongside a regular season American Conference title, an NCAA tournament berth, multiple weeks inside the D1 Softball Top25 and numerous individual post season accolades. As Florida Atlantic prepares to enter year four of the Jordan Clark era, their first set of games have been announced.
On February 16th, 2025- the Owls accepted their invitation to the 2026 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational. The Clearwater invitational is an annual tournament hosted at the multi-field Eddie C. Moore Complex. Every year, Clearwater lays host to college softball’s elite in this more than exclusive tournament. This four day weekend of games serves as a tune up for the nation’s top squads, while setting the stage for any new national contenders to emerge.
Florida Atlantic is one of two group of five programs in the 16 team field that consists of the following: Duke, FAU, Florida State, Georgia, James Madison, LSU, Missouri, Nebraska, NC State, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UCF, UCLA
By the numbers
Of this 16 team field, 13 competed in the NCAA Tournament, with 7 hosting a first round Regional. Three of the teams participating in Clearwater would advance to the 2025 College World Series (Tennessee, Texas Tech, UCLA), with the Lady Red Raiders playing in the National Championship. At the end of the 2025 season, 10 programs were ranked inside the D1 Softball Top 25, with two others receiving votes
Earlier this afternoon- FAU’s schedule for the Clearwater Invitational was revealed, which stands as
February 13- Texas Tech (4PM), Florida State (7PM)
February 14- Tennessee (12PM), Missouri (3PM)
February 15- James Madison (1PM)
The Owls will certainly have their work cut out for them over Valentine’s Day weekend. With that being said- this may be the best Owls’ Softball team we’ve seen in some time. Florida Atlantic returns the overwhelming majority of their production from last season, while adding new faces that will certainly be a delight to the Softball faithful.
In the circle, senior Autumn Courtney returns to Paradise after boasting a 2.03 ERA and 172 strike out season, earning All-Conference and All-American honors. Courtney is complimented by leftie Jaden Martinez, who tossed a 2.83 ERA and 66K’s, who threw the third perfect game in program history right before the Conference Tournament. Finally- closer Ainsley Lambert returns for her super senior season. Lambert was lights out when she’d come out of the bullpen, as she recorded 11 saves and threw 55 sit downs on the year.
Offensively, the Owls’ have numerous residents of “Barrel City”, as 3B Jesiana Mora and C Chloe Yeatts both recorded 8 home runs in 2025, with DH Ciara Gibson accounting for another 6. Florida Atlantic constantly found their way on base, as Freshman All-American LF Bella Foran ended the season batting .419 (#59th NCAA), while CF Kylie Hammonds boasted an incredible 1.066 OPS.
The most intriguing Portal add during the off-season comes from dual-threat Madison Inscoe. Inscoe, an NC State transfer, was a multipurpose player during her time with the Wolfpack. Through 19 appearances last spring, Madison Inscoe would pitch, hit and field, recording a 2.60 ERA in the circle, alongside 8 hits and 4 RBI’s. Multi-purpose players aren’t a stranger to Boca Raton, as in 2024 P/DH Trinity Schlotterbeck recorded 79K’s and a 2.67 ERA- paired with a .293, 41 hit season inside the batters box. Schlotterbeck would go onto earn numerous conference and All-American honors as the ’24 season closed.
The majority of Florida Atlantic’s 2026 slate is still to be announced. How will the Owls fare in Clearwater? Only time will tell
