LAKELAND, Fla. -- SEU Softball has released its 2026 schedule, featuring a demanding mix of nationally ranked opponents, conference doubleheaders, and postseason-caliber tournaments as the Fire prepare for another championship pursuit. SEU enters the spring ranked No. 19 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll and is coming off its fourth consecutive appearance in the NAIA Softball National Tournament.
The Fire open the season at home on February 6 against Bryan before hosting a stretch of early doubleheaders at the SEU Softball Field. Southeastern welcomes No. 15 Reinhardt for a Saturday doubleheader on February 7, followed by home twin bills against Thomas (Feb. 13), Abraham Baldwin (Feb. 14), and Mobile (Feb. 16). Conference play begins in late February with Ave Maria visiting Lakeland on February 27–28, including a Saturday doubleheader.
A highlight of the home slate comes on March 2 when SEU hosts No. 6 Grand View for a doubleheader, marking one of several matchups against nationally ranked competition. The Fire remain at home the following day for a doubleheader against Calumet College of St. Joseph, concluding an extended early-season homestand that allows Southeastern to establish rhythm before entering tournament play.
Southeastern heads to Gulf Shores, Alabama, for the 2026 Gulf Coast Invitational on March 6–8. The Fire will face Campbellsville and Point on Friday, Saint Ambrose and No. 12 Our Lady of the Lake on Saturday, and conclude the weekend against No. 13 LSU Alexandria on Sunday. The tournament provides SEU with five games in three days against quality competition from across the country.
Following the Gulf Coast Invitational, the Fire return to Florida for the Space Coast Spring Games in Melbourne on March 17, squaring off against Johnson (Tenn.) and Northwestern Ohio in a single-day neutral-site event.
Sun Conference road play begins March 13–14 at New College of Florida, with a Friday contest followed by a Saturday doubleheader. Southeastern continues conference action away from home at Florida Memorial on March 20–21, also featuring a Saturday doubleheader. The Fire then return to Lakeland for a key midweek series with No. 18 St. Thomas on March 24–25, highlighted by a Wednesday doubleheader.
April features pivotal conference series as SEU hosts Warner on April 2–3, including a Thursday doubleheader, before traveling to Coastal Georgia on April 10–11. The regular-season home schedule concludes with a marquee series against Keiser on April 17–18, capped by a Saturday doubleheader. Southeastern closes the regular season on the road at Webber International on April 24–25.
Postseason play begins with the Sun Conference Tournament on April 30 in Clearwater, Florida. The Fire will then look to extend their postseason streak with the NAIA Opening Round starting May 11, followed by the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Georgia, beginning May 21.
With a schedule built around doubleheaders, ranked opponents, and championship-level tournaments, Southeastern is positioned for another competitive spring as it aims for a fifth straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament.
