THOMASVILLE, Ga. – Head Coach Jessica Sanders released the 2026 Thomas Softball schedule, the 2026 campaign marks her 5th season as the head coach and 13th year on the coaching staff overall. This season features ten opponents currently ranked or receiving votes in the national poll. With a trio of doubleheaders against former SUN conference foes. The Night Hawks play just two home non-conference doubleheaders before starting SSAC play on March 10.
First pitch of the season is scheduled for Friday, February 13 at 1 pm for a doubleheader with No. 19 Southeastern. Then they continue their road trip with a doubleheader against the Warner Royals on Saturday, before finishing off their South Florida trip with a doubleheader against the Warriors of Webber International on Sunday at 1 PM.
The Night Hawks host their home opener against Truett McConnell on Friday, February 20 at 1pm and follow up with their second ranked opponent of the season, the (RV) Coastal Georgia Mariners on Saturday at 1 PM
One week later, Thomas will participate in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NAIA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., the site of the NAIA Softball World Series, after they took a break in the 2025 season.
The field is loaded for Thomas as three of their four games are against ranked opponents. The Night Hawks face the Golden Tigers of Brenau for the first of two games on Friday, February 27th scheduled for a 3:30 PM start. Thomas then faces off against the (RV) Campbellsville Tigers who they last met the Gulf Shores Invitational in 2024. The following day features a doubleheader with two top 25 opponents. The first game is against No. 7 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) at 12:00 PM with the final game of the classic for the Night Hawks is against No.24 Rio Grande Red Storm set for 2:30 PM.
The Night Hawks return to action with another neutral site tournament. Thomas is set to play at five game set in the Gulf Coast Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala. They begin play on Friday, March 6 at 3:45 pm versus Texas A&M Victoria and follow up with Texas A&M-Texarkana at 6:00 PM. Thomas starts Saturday late with their first game scheduled to start at 6:00 PM with first time foe Morningside and get to play a night cap against United States Sports University set for 8:00 PM. The Night Hawks face Bethel for their final game in Gulf Shores on Sunday March 8 with a 1:30 PM scheduled start.
Thomas continues their road stretch when they travel to Montgomery to face Faulkner to open SSAC play on March 10 at 1 pm. On Saturday, the 14th, Thomas hosts their first conference opponent of the season in the Point Skyhawks for a doubleheader set for 1 PM. Thomas continues their conference slate against a gauntlet of three consecutive RV teams that all made appearances in last year's NAIA Softball Opening Round. The Night Hawks travel to (RV) William Carey on March 20 with a start time of 4 PM CST then face (RV) Mobile the next day at 12 PM.
Thomas hits longest home stretch of the season as they host six doubleheaders in a row with the final home doubleheader as Senior Day. They begin the homestand against (RV) UT Southern on Friday, March 27 at 1 PM and follows up with Blue Mountain Christian on Saturday at 1 PM to cap off the weekend of conference play.
The Night Hawks face the ABAC Fillies in a Thursday doubleheader on April 2 at 2 PM to start the weekend of in-state conference opponents. the next day, they face Brewton Parker Christian on Friday at 1 PM.
Thomas faces a midweek matchup against the Faulkner Eagles on Tuesday April 7 at 2PM to round out their home conference schedule.
On April 10 at 2 PM and April 11 at 1 PM the Night Hawks face the Baptist University of Florida in a duo of doubleheaders with the latter pair to celebrate senior day.
Thomas then finishes out the regular season with four straight Georgia opponents. The Night Hawks open the week against Point on April 14 at 3 PM in a rematch to complete the regular season series.
The Night Hawks make the short trip up US-319 to face the Fillies in a rematch on Friday, April 17 at 2 PM. On Saturday the Night Hawks cap off conference play against the Brewton Parker Christian Barons at 1 PM.
Thomas ends their regular season with a three-game set against No. 4 Georgia Gwinnett with one game on Friday April 24 at 2PM and a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12 PM.
The Night Hawks look to return to the Championship field after reaching the Opening Round last season and posting 30 wins in the 2025 season.
The SSAC Softball Championship will take place on April 30-May 2 at the Wilson Morgan Softball Complex in Decatur, Ala. The national tournament will begin with the Opening Round hosted at campus sites from May 11-14 and the World Series will take place on May 21-26 at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga.
