BOWIE, MD — Coming off one of the most successful stretches in program history, the three-time defending CIAA champion Bowie State softball team has announced its 2026 schedule as seventh-year head coach Ed Powell leads the Bulldogs into another title defense.
 
The Bulldogs open the 2026 campaign Feb. 13–15 at an HBCU Classic in Covington, Ga., facing Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T, Alcorn State, Claflin, and Fort Valley State. Bowie State will also compete in the Sue Morris Classic in West Virginia before returning to BSU for its home opener on March 4 against Shepherd in a doubleheader at the BSU Softball Field.
 
March features a home-heavy slate, as the Bulldogs host Bloomsburg (March 7), Frostburg State (March 8), Millersville (March 12), and Fairmont State (March 18), providing early opportunities to build momentum before conference play intensifies.
 
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) competition begins with the league's Round-Up from March 26–28, followed by key Northern Division matchups throughout April. Bowie State will travel to Virginia State and Virginia Union before closing the regular season at home against Lincoln (PA), Elizabeth City State, and Bluefield State. The Bulldogs will also host a Division 1 opponent, Morgan State, on April 29.
 
The CIAA Championship is scheduled for May 7–9 in Orangeburg, S.C., with the NCAA Regional and Super Regional play slated for later in May.
 
BSU is coming off a 27–20 season, highlighted by a perfect 15–0 record in CIAA play, which captured its third consecutive conference championship and earned an NCAA Regional Tournament appearance. The Bulldogs swept the league's top postseason honors, earning CIAA Coach of the Year and CIAA Player of the Year accolades, while placing six student-athletes on All-CIAA teams and producing two All-Atlantic Region selections. Powell also represented the program on the national stage, appearing in the premier HBCU All-Star Game alongside two of his former players.
 
All home games will be played at the BSU Softball Field on the campus of Bowie State University.
 
For the latest information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sports, visit bsubulldogs.com.