MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Montevallo softball team is set to open the 2026 season on Friday with a pair of games at the Gulf Shores Invitational.
The Falcons closed the 2025 season with a 31-24 overall record and a 19-14 record in Gulf South Conference play. Montevallo was picked to finish seventh in the GSC Softball Preseason Poll, while Taylor Lloyd and Riley Tyree captured Preseason All-GSC honors.
BATTING
Notable returners include Tyree, along with 2025 Second Team All-GSC selections Becca Benton and Bentlee Stiner.
Tyree finished the 2025 campaign with the best batting average on the team at .320, while posting the fourth best slugging percentage (.494) and fourth best on-base percentage (.359). Tyree led the team in hits (57), doubles (12), triples (five), sacrifice flies (four), and at-bats (178). Benton had a solid initial season at Montevallo leading the team in RBIs (35) and multi-hit games (13), while also holding a team leading-five hit-by-pitches. Benton closed the year picking up NFCA All-South Region accolades. Stiner had a solid 2025 season, leading the team in on-base percentage (.405), runs scored (40), and walks (22), while sharing a team leading eight stolen bases. Stiner ranked second on the team in batting average (.314), second in OPS (.933), second in hits (50), fourth in doubles (nine), third in triples (two), second in home runs (seven), fourth in RBIs (22), and third in slugging percentage (.528).
The Falcons add multiple new faces which include transfers Lillie Piersol, Laney Williams, and Makayla Peters.
PITCHING
Taylor Lloyd leads the way for the Montevallo pitching staff after making history last year, finishing with the best-earned run average by any Falcon pitcher in a single season (2.10 ERA). The Second Team All-GSC honoree also set new single season program records for wins (15) and complete games (16). Lloyd pitched the second most innings in a season (173) and earned the second most strikeouts (140), while tying for the second most saves in a season (three).
The Falcons also return Berkley Mooney (2.96 ERA, 47.1 IP), Kinsley Byrd (3 wins, 37.1 IP), Mya Young (3 wins, 19.1 IP), and Addy Tillery (17.1 IP), while adding freshman Mia Owens.
FIELDING
Defensively, Emma Hawkins recorded the best fielding percentage of anyone with over 80 chances on the year, finishing with a .989 on 88 chances. Kiley Christopher followed behind with a .985 on 196 chances. Tyree recorded the most putouts (330), while also being involved in a team leading-ten double plays. Madison Fargo recorded a team leading-67 assists.
OPENING WEEKEND
The Falcons open the season on Friday, Jan. 30 with a pair of games against No. 18 Rogers State and Middle Georgia State in Gulf Shores, Ala.
Rogers State finished the 2025 season with a 39-15 overall record, concluding the season in the Central Regional Championship. The Hillcats are ranked No. 18 in the NFCA Preseason Poll, while ranking fourth in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Middle Georgia State enters its first season in NCAA DII. The Knights closed the 2025 season with a 40-10 overall record and were one game away from advancing to the NAIA World Series. MGA is picked to finish tenth in the Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Get a preview of the full schedule here.
First pitch for Montevallo is set for 11:00 a.m. CST at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
