Thursday, February 19
Palm Desert, CA
10:00 AM
California Baptist University
vs
Oregon State University
Photo by: Diego Mazun
SB Preview: Mary Nutter College Classic Awaits CBU in Palm Desert
2/18/2026 3:31:00 PM | Softball
PALM DESERT, CA --- California Baptist and 29 other teams are preparing to take over Palm Desert this weekend as the 2026 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic gets underway on Thursday. With five games on the schedule this weekend, CBU will test itself against top competition in one of the biggest weekends of the softball season.
The field this weekend in Palm Desert is stacked, with nine of the 30 teams setting up shop in Palm Desert finding themselves currently ranked in the USA Softball Poll. Seven of the nation's top 15 teams will be in the field, including last season's Women's College World Series runner-up Texas Tech and softball powerhouse Oklahoma.
CBU will not square off against any ranked opponents this weekend, although one of its future opponents, No. 11 UCLA, will be in the field. Five opponents await the Lancers, representing the Big 12, Big West, Mountain West, and WCC.
The Lancers come into the week after a historic outing in their last trip to the diamond, a perfect game from Annika Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth set down 15 straight batters as CBU took down Hawaii, 9-0, to conclude the CBU Classic. CBU went 5-1 in their home tournament, adding additional wins against CSU Bakersfield and Saint Francis.
Pitching was on display at John C. Funk Stadium as Emily Darwin and Miranda De Nava also logged shutout performances. Darwin did not allow a run in her 11.0 innings in the circle, and De Nava struck out 20 in her three starts, including 12 against Saint Francis on Valentine's Day.
De Nava was named the WAC Pitcher of the Week for the second week in a row.
CBU's bats also showed out as the Lancers outscored their opponents 39-10 in the CBU Classic. The Lancers are outscoring opponents 74-29 through 11 games this season. Brooklyn Bassett hit her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot that ended a 9-0 win against CSU Bakersfield. Malachy Russell-Millen also left the yard as her two-run blast against Hawaii was the second of her Division I career.
Kenzie Farrier-Pilon led the Lancers with a .625 average in the CBU Classic, earning her a spot on the All-Tournament team along with De Nava and Hollingsworth.
CBU's first test in Palm Desert comes on Thursday morning when they take on the Beavers of Oregon State. OSU is 4-6 this season. The Lancers will then see future Big West foe UC San Diego at 12:30 p.m. The Tritons are off to a 10-1 start this season, with nine of those wins coming on their home field.
Action continues Friday when the Lancers take on an old foe from the WAC, Seattle, with that game being slated for 10 a.m. Seattle is 7-3 to start their first year in the WCC. Fresno State comes next with the Lancers and Bulldogs meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
The Mary Nutter Classic wraps up for CBU on Saturday night against Utah (8-2).
All games throughout the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic will be streamed live on FloCollege. After the weekend wraps up, CBU will return to Riverside to play San Diego on Tuesday, February 24.
The field this weekend in Palm Desert is stacked, with nine of the 30 teams setting up shop in Palm Desert finding themselves currently ranked in the USA Softball Poll. Seven of the nation's top 15 teams will be in the field, including last season's Women's College World Series runner-up Texas Tech and softball powerhouse Oklahoma.
CBU will not square off against any ranked opponents this weekend, although one of its future opponents, No. 11 UCLA, will be in the field. Five opponents await the Lancers, representing the Big 12, Big West, Mountain West, and WCC.
The Lancers come into the week after a historic outing in their last trip to the diamond, a perfect game from Annika Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth set down 15 straight batters as CBU took down Hawaii, 9-0, to conclude the CBU Classic. CBU went 5-1 in their home tournament, adding additional wins against CSU Bakersfield and Saint Francis.
Pitching was on display at John C. Funk Stadium as Emily Darwin and Miranda De Nava also logged shutout performances. Darwin did not allow a run in her 11.0 innings in the circle, and De Nava struck out 20 in her three starts, including 12 against Saint Francis on Valentine's Day.
De Nava was named the WAC Pitcher of the Week for the second week in a row.
CBU's bats also showed out as the Lancers outscored their opponents 39-10 in the CBU Classic. The Lancers are outscoring opponents 74-29 through 11 games this season. Brooklyn Bassett hit her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot that ended a 9-0 win against CSU Bakersfield. Malachy Russell-Millen also left the yard as her two-run blast against Hawaii was the second of her Division I career.
Kenzie Farrier-Pilon led the Lancers with a .625 average in the CBU Classic, earning her a spot on the All-Tournament team along with De Nava and Hollingsworth.
CBU's first test in Palm Desert comes on Thursday morning when they take on the Beavers of Oregon State. OSU is 4-6 this season. The Lancers will then see future Big West foe UC San Diego at 12:30 p.m. The Tritons are off to a 10-1 start this season, with nine of those wins coming on their home field.
Action continues Friday when the Lancers take on an old foe from the WAC, Seattle, with that game being slated for 10 a.m. Seattle is 7-3 to start their first year in the WCC. Fresno State comes next with the Lancers and Bulldogs meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
The Mary Nutter Classic wraps up for CBU on Saturday night against Utah (8-2).
All games throughout the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic will be streamed live on FloCollege. After the weekend wraps up, CBU will return to Riverside to play San Diego on Tuesday, February 24.
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