Thursday, February 5
Las Vegas, NV
6:00 PM
California Baptist University
at
UNLV
SB Preview: Softball to Begin Telesco Era This Week in Las Vegas
2/4/2026 11:00:00 AM | Softball
LAS VEGAS, NV --- A new era of California Baptist Softball gets underway this week as the Lancers travel to Las Vegas for the UNLV Leadoff Classic. Awaiting CBU are five games against three opponents, as head coach Brandon Telesco begins his first season as head coach of the Lancers.
The Lancers are coming off a 26-32 season in 2025 and were recently picked to finish second in the WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Three Lancers were also named to the Preseason All-WAC Team: Matti Severns, Miranda De Nava, and Ashlee Annett.
It will be a new look for the CBU softball program this season. On top of Telesco and an entirely new coaching staff, the Lancers will also feature 16 new faces. The recruiting class features ten incoming freshmen and six transfers. Those transfers include two of CBU's captains, Makayla Medellin and Sydney Peterson.
Medellin was a three-time All-Big West selection at Long Beach State, and Peterson brings to Riverside 64 collegiate appearances with LSU. Telesco also tabbed Annett and Malachy Russell-Millen as the team's captain group.
The Lancers will begin the season on Thursday night when they take on UNLV under the lights of Eller Media Stadium in Las Vegas. CBU will play the Rebels twice, with the second meeting coming on Saturday at 3 p.m.
UNLV finished 24-25 last season, with one of those wins being a walk-off of the Lancers in Las Vegas. The Rebels hit .277 with 38 home runs and 208 RBI in 2025. Their pitching staff compiled a 4.49 ERA.
Next for CBU will be the Purdue Boilermakers, a team CBU will see on both Friday and Saturday. The Boilermakers finished 9-13 in Big Ten play last season and posted a 30-23 overall mark. This will be the first-ever meeting between CBU and Purdue.
Purdue had the highest batting average last season of the four teams in Las Vegas this week, hitting .290 with 105 extra-base hits (26 HR). The Boilermakers compiled a 3.63 ERA.
CBU's third opponent will be UIC, a team that finished 9-46 last season and 5-22 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Lancers will play UIC at 3 p.m. on Friday, their lone meeting with this first-time opponent.
UIC posted a .246 average with 75 extra-base hits (10 HR) last season, adding a 6.30 ERA.
All five of CBU's games will be streamed live on the UNLV Athletics YouTube channel. After this weekend, the Lancers will return to Riverside for their home opener next week against LMU. CBU will play six times next weekend as part of the CBU Classic at John C. Funk Stadium.
The Lancers are coming off a 26-32 season in 2025 and were recently picked to finish second in the WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Three Lancers were also named to the Preseason All-WAC Team: Matti Severns, Miranda De Nava, and Ashlee Annett.
It will be a new look for the CBU softball program this season. On top of Telesco and an entirely new coaching staff, the Lancers will also feature 16 new faces. The recruiting class features ten incoming freshmen and six transfers. Those transfers include two of CBU's captains, Makayla Medellin and Sydney Peterson.
Medellin was a three-time All-Big West selection at Long Beach State, and Peterson brings to Riverside 64 collegiate appearances with LSU. Telesco also tabbed Annett and Malachy Russell-Millen as the team's captain group.
The Lancers will begin the season on Thursday night when they take on UNLV under the lights of Eller Media Stadium in Las Vegas. CBU will play the Rebels twice, with the second meeting coming on Saturday at 3 p.m.
UNLV finished 24-25 last season, with one of those wins being a walk-off of the Lancers in Las Vegas. The Rebels hit .277 with 38 home runs and 208 RBI in 2025. Their pitching staff compiled a 4.49 ERA.
Next for CBU will be the Purdue Boilermakers, a team CBU will see on both Friday and Saturday. The Boilermakers finished 9-13 in Big Ten play last season and posted a 30-23 overall mark. This will be the first-ever meeting between CBU and Purdue.
Purdue had the highest batting average last season of the four teams in Las Vegas this week, hitting .290 with 105 extra-base hits (26 HR). The Boilermakers compiled a 3.63 ERA.
CBU's third opponent will be UIC, a team that finished 9-46 last season and 5-22 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Lancers will play UIC at 3 p.m. on Friday, their lone meeting with this first-time opponent.
UIC posted a .246 average with 75 extra-base hits (10 HR) last season, adding a 6.30 ERA.
All five of CBU's games will be streamed live on the UNLV Athletics YouTube channel. After this weekend, the Lancers will return to Riverside for their home opener next week against LMU. CBU will play six times next weekend as part of the CBU Classic at John C. Funk Stadium.
Players Mentioned
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/ Softball
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IF/OF
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