MILLIGAN, Tenn. – First-Year head coach of the Milligan University softball team, Cassie Fortner has revealed her team's upcoming schedule for the 2026 campaign.

Click HERE to view the full 2026 Milligan softball slate.

The season gets under way with a challenge, as the Buffaloes head west to McKenzie, Tenn. to face the Bethel University Wildcats in a doubleheader on Jan. 24, beginning at 12 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET).

After a pair of exhibitions at Berry College (Ga.) on Jan. 31 starting at 1 p.m., the Buffs play their first two contests at home, hosting NCAA DII Lees-McRae College (N.C.) on Feb. 5, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. More Division II opposition awaits, as Carson-Newman University will then host the Buffaloes on Feb. 7 beginning at 1 p.m. in Jefferson City, Tenn.

One week later, the daunting schedule continues with a trip to the Patriots Classic, hosted by No. 7-ranked University of the Cumberlands (Ky.). The three-game event begins with a tilt on Feb. 14 against the (RV) Warriors of Indiana Tech at 5 p.m. The Buffaloes' next tilt comes on Feb. 15 at 11:30 a.m. when they play another team receiving votes in the national poll, Campbellsville University (Ky.). Finally, Milligan matches up with the tourney hosts at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 to close out the event.

Two more non-conference battles will take place before conference bouts get under way, as Milligan will head down to West Point, Ga. to take part in a doubleheader against the Point University Skyhawks on Feb. 25, beginning at 12 p.m.

Milligan's Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) schedule begins on Feb. 28 in Black Mountain, N.C. against Montreat College with a doubleheader that starts at 1 p.m.

The Buffaloes then have three straight home doubleheaders in AAC play, as they host the University of Pikeville (Ky.) Bears on March 3, with game one starting at 1 p.m. Four days later, the Johnson University (Tenn.) Royals head to Anglin Field for a pair of games set to commence at 12 p.m. The last of the three opponents is the Bryan College (Tenn.) Lions, who will meet the Buffs on March 13, with first pitch set to be hurled at 2 p.m.

Following an AAC doubleheader on the road at Brenau University (Ga.) in Gainesville on March 14, starting at 2 p.m., Milligan will then leave conference play for a day. They are set to head to Winston-Salem, N.C. to face the Carolina University Bruins at 1 p.m. in a pair of tilts.

The remainder of March includes three more conference doubleheaders. First, it is the Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs that will host the Buffs on March 20, with the first battle set to begin at 2 p.m. Next, it is a trip out to Columbia, S.C., where Milligan meets the Columbia College Koalas at 2 p.m. on March 28. The very next day, MU will then host the Spartanburg Methodist College (S.C.) Pioneers on March 29 at 2 p.m.

On April 1, Columbia International University (S.C.) will host the Buffaloes, who will come straight back to Columbia, S.C. for two bouts beginning at 3 p.m.

Next, the Buffaloes get their first back-to-back home opponents since mid-March, as they host Union Commonwealth University (Ky.) at 2 p.m. on Apr. 3. Then, it is Bluefield University (Va.) that heads down to Anglin Field for a 2 p.m. doubleheader on April 9.

The final two AAC twin-billings for Milligan will take place away from home. On April 14, MU heads down to Cleveland, Ga., where they will match up with the Truett McConnell University Bears. Game one is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch. Reinhardt University (Ga.) hosts the Buffs the next day, April 15, at 3 p.m. for the final games of the regular season in conference play.

For Senior Day, the Buffaloes have scheduled Carolina University to come to Anglin Field on April 18 at 2 p.m. for a celebration of the contributions of five seniors.

"We're extremely excited to start the 2026 season," Fortner said. "The girls have worked incredibly hard and have fully bought into our coaching styles and expectations, which has made a huge difference in our growth. Our pitching and hitting are strong, and our defense has improved significantly over the fall. The commitment, energy, and competitiveness of this team have raised the standard, and we have very high expectations for what we can accomplish this season. We can't wait to see all the hard work come together as we head into February and prepare for conference play."

The AAC Tournament will be played by the top 10 teams in the conference at the Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, Tenn. from April 27-30, as the Buffaloes aim to reach the postseason tourney for the second straight year.