San Diego (10-9, 0-0 WCC)  •  Notre Dame (7-12, 0-3 ACC) • #20/23 GCU (22-0, 0-0 MW) • Princeton (5-4, 0-0 Ivy) Reggie Smith Softball Complex (386)  •  San Diego, California
Live Streaming • ESPN+ (Keith Demolder)  |  Live Statistics • StatBroadcast
Social  •  Twitter.com/USDSoftball  •  Instagram.com/USDSoftball

SAN DIEGO — Riding a three-game winning streak to close out the Reggie Smith Invitational, the Toreros return to action this week at the Reggie Smith Softball Complex as co-hosts of the USD/SDSU Co-Host Tournament, taking on Notre Dame (7-12, 0-3 ACC), #20/23 Grand Canyon (22-0, 0-0 MW), and Princeton (5-4, 0-0 Ivy).

San Diego will open tournament play on Friday afternoon against the Fighting Irish at 2:00 PM, before turning around to face the undefeated and nationally-ranked Antelopes later that evening at 4:30 PM. The Toreros will then take on the Tigers on Saturday at 12:30 PM, before closing out the tournament with a rematch against Princeton on Monday at 4:00 PM.

All USD games in the tournament will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Keith Demolder on the call, as well as live statistics available for all games on USDToreros.com.

ALL TIME SERIES AGAINST GRAND CANYON
• The Toreros are 0-9 against the Antelopes all-time, with the two teams' most recent meeting coming earlier this season on February 19, 2026, when San Diego traveled to Phoenix to take part in the Purple Classic and dropped a 7-0 decision to the undefeated hosts at the GCU Softball Stadium.
• Before this season, the two teams' most recent meeting came last season on March 8, 2025, when San Diego traveled to Phoenix and fell to the Antelopes by a 7-5 margin.
• San Diego last hosted Grand Canyon two seasons ago in 2023, when the Antelopes took down the Toreros 9-5 at the USD Softball Complex.
• San Diego and Grand Canyon's first-ever meeting came in 2014, when the Antelopes defeated the Toreros 3-1 in San Diego.

ALL TIME SERIES AGAINST NOTRE DAME
• The Toreros are 2-0 against the Fighting Irish all-time, with the two teams' most recent meeting coming on February 17, 2012, when San Diego hosted Notre Dame and took down the Fighting Irish by a 4-2 margin at the USD Softball Complex.
• San Diego and Notre Dame's first-ever meeting came two years prior on March 12, 2010, when the Toreros defeated the Fighting Irish 2-1 in Long Beach, Calif.

ALL TIME SERIES AGAINST PRINCETON
• The Toreros and the Tigers are tied 1-1 all-time, with both meetings coming on back-to-back days on March 13 and 14, 2004, at a neutral site in Riverside, Calif. Princeton took the first matchup 3-0, before San Diego bounced back the following day to tie the series with a 1-0 victory.

LAST TIME OUT- REGGIE SMITH INVITATIONAL
The Toreros returned home last week to host the Reggie Smith Invitational at the Reggie Smith Softball Complex. USD played in four total games over the tournament, taking on San Diego State, Cal Poly, Kansas City, and CSUN. Before the tournament began, the Toreros also made a quick midweek trip up to Riverside to take on Cal Baptist at John C. Funk Stadium. 

2/24 AT CAL BAPTIST: San Diego made the trip up to Riverside to take on the 13-3 Lancers at John C. Funk Stadium and were handed a tough 12-3 defeat. California Baptist broke the game open with six runs in the fourth inning and added four more in the sixth to pull away. Kaitlyn Wynia went 2-for-3 with an RBI, Janae Combs added two hits, and Taylor Johnson drove in a run, but USD managed just seven hits on the night. Charlie Johnson started and took the loss, allowing five earned runs in 3.1 innings, with Kelsey Tadlock allowing four more in relief.

2/26 VS. SAN DIEGO STATE: The Toreros dropped their Reggie Smith Invitational opener to the Aztecs 5-0 at the Reggie Smith Softball Complex. Kelsey Tadlock started but allowed three home runs in the first inning and was lifted after 0.2 innings. Charlie Johnson came on in relief and was excellent, tossing 6.1 innings and allowing just one earned run with four strikeouts, keeping USD in the game — but the Toreros' offense managed just five hits and could not generate a run, as San Diego State added two more in the seventh to seal it.

2/28 VS. CAL POLY: USD bounced back in a big way after the tournament at home with a loss, beating the Mustangs 6-1. Charlie Johnson started and earned the win, tossing 4.0 shutout innings, with Alex Riggs coming on in relief to throw 3.0 innings. The Toreros erupted for five runs in the third inning to take control. Mallory Axline delivered the big blow — a three-RBI triple — while Kaylee Oh doubled and scored twice, Michelle Delgado added two hits and a stolen base, and Janae Combs also had a hit and an RBI in the rally.

2/28 VS. UMKC: In their second game of the day, the Toreros defeated the Roos 7-3 in the first-ever meeting between the two programs, rallying from a 1-0 deficit with seven runs across the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Kaitlyn Wynia was the offensive catalyst, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Shawnese Hogue-Lacy launched a home run and drove in two. Kaitlyn Bartlow started and tossed 6.1 innings, allowing just one earned run without issuing a walk, with Charlie Johnson coming on to strike out two in the seventh to close it out.

3/1 VS. CSUN: The Toreros closed out the Reggie Smith Invitational with a 4-2 victory over the Matadors to finish the tournament 3-1. CSUN scored twice in the second inning before USD rallied for three runs in the fourth and added an insurance run in the sixth. Mallory Axline went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, Kaitlyn Wynia added two hits and an RBI, and Shawnese Hogue-Lacy reached base twice and scored twice. Charlie Johnson started and allowed two runs — both unearned — across 6.0 innings to earn the win, with Kaitlyn Bartlow working a scoreless inning of relief to open the game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
​​#1 Kaitlyn Wynia | OF | Junior | Torrance, CA | Torrance High School
The Torrance, California native leads the team in batting average (.404), hits (23), and doubles (6), batting 23-for-57 with eight RBI, eight runs scored, and a .942 OPS through 19 games. She has reached base safely in 16 of her 19 appearances and has not gone more than two consecutive games without a hit all season.

Wynia announced herself immediately, going 2-for-2 in the season opener at UC Davis (Feb. 6) and following with a 3-for-4 performance with an RBI vs. Colorado State (Feb. 7). She doubled and drove in a run in each game of the Weber State home series (Feb. 12), then had her best game of the Reggie Smith Invitational against UMKC (Feb. 28) — going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. She also went 2-for-3 with a double, a run, and an RBI at Cal Baptist (Feb. 24) and closed the tournament with a 2-for-3 outing and an RBI against CSUN (Mar. 1). With just four strikeouts in 57 at-bats and four sacrifice bunts on the season, Wynia is the most disciplined contact hitter in the USD lineup.

Last season (2025): Hit .328 with 9 RBI in 38 games; led USD in batting average; on-base percentage of .391 ranked 23rd across the WCC.

#14 Taylor Johnson | UT | Senior | Seal Beach, CA | Los Alamitos High School
The 2024 WCC Batting Champion leads the team in RBIs (11), home runs (2), and OPS (.940), batting .289 (13-for-45) with five doubles and a .533 slugging percentage through 18 games. She has been hit by pitch five times, boosting her on-base percentage to .407 and making her one of the most difficult outs in the lineup regardless of what she does at the plate.

Johnson doubled and drove in two runs in the Colorado State win (Feb. 7), then delivered back-to-back home runs in the Weber State-Southern Utah stretch — a solo shot vs. Weber State (Feb. 12) and a two-run blast vs. Southern Utah (Feb. 13) as part of a 2-for-3, three-RBI performance, the two biggest offensive swings of the non-conference schedule. She was at her best in the Purple Classic, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs against North Florida (Feb. 21) and adding an RBI at Cal Baptist (Feb. 24).

Last season (2025): Posted a .321/.400/.575 slash line with nine home runs and a team-leading 37 RBI; 2024 WCC Batting Champion; 2024 WCC First Team selection.

#5 Michelle Delgado | INF | Junior | Santa Ana, CA | Segerstrom High School
The Santa Ana, California native has been USD's most dynamic extra-base hitter, batting .340 (18-for-53) with four doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 runs scored, and a .509 slugging percentage in 17 games. Her ten runs scored lead all position players, and her six total extra base hits is second amongst her teammates. 

Delgado hit safely in six consecutive games from Feb. 8 through Feb. 19 — the longest hit streak by any Torero this season — going 9-for-18 (.500) with four extra-base hits during that stretch, including a double and a triple vs. Weber State (Feb. 12) and a home run vs. Colorado State (Feb. 13) that was the decisive blow in a 4-3 USD win. She posted a 3-for-4 performance vs. Montana (Feb. 21) in the Purple Classic and continued her productivity in the Reggie Smith Invitational, going 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base vs. Cal Poly (Feb. 28) and 2-for-3 with an RBI vs. UMKC (Feb. 28).

Last season (2025): Posted a .318/.396/.409 slash line in 45 games; led USD in assists (84) with a .976 fielding percentage at third base.

#20 Mallory Axline | INF | Sophomore | San Diego, CA | Cathedral Catholic High School
The sophomore has recently emerged as one of USD's most reliable run producers, batting .308 (12-for-39) with two triples, seven RBI, and five runs scored in 14 games. She has been particularly productive in big spots, driving in runs in five of her 14 appearances and recording a hit in 10 of 14 games.

Axline was at her best during the Reggie Smith Invitational, delivering a three-RBI triple vs. Cal Poly (Feb. 28) and closing the tournament with a 2-for-3 performance including a triple and an RBI in the win over CSUN (Mar. 1). She also went 2-for-3 at Cal Baptist (Feb. 24) and contributed an RBI vs. Montana (Feb. 21) in the Purple Classic — showing a consistent ability to come through in the biggest moments of USD's non-conference schedule thus far.

#21 Charlie Johnson | RHP | Senior | San Diego, CA | Del Norte High School / Sonoma State Transfer
The San Diego native and Sonoma State transfer leads the staff in appearances (13), starts (7), and innings pitched (54.0) with a 5-3 record and 2.46 ERA through 19 games — the most relied-upon arm on the roster and the anchor of the USD rotation.

Johnson opened the season with a complete-game effort at UC Davis (Feb. 6, 7.0 IP, 1 ER) and has consistently delivered in her biggest starts, posting a complete-game win vs. Colorado State (Feb. 13, 7.0 IP, 3 ER) and earning the win with 6.0 innings of one-run ball vs. North Florida (Feb. 21). She was outstanding down the stretch of the non-conference schedule, tossing 6.1 innings of one-run ball vs. San Diego State (Feb. 26), 4.0 scoreless innings vs. Cal Poly (Feb. 28), and 6.0 shutout frames to close the Reggie Smith Invitational against CSUN (Mar. 1) — going 2-0 with a 0.41 ERA across those four Reggie Smith Invitational outings, allowing just one earned run in 17.0 innings.

Transfer background (Sonoma State, 2022–25): 37-23 career record in 94 appearances with a 1.86 ERA in 388.2 innings; five CCAA Pitcher of the Week awards; 2025 First Team All-Region and All-Conference; 23 complete games in 29 starts in her junior season.

#4 Kaitlyn Bartlow | SP/RP | Sophomore | Westlake Village, CA | Westlake High School
Bartlow has been the most efficient arm on the staff, leading the team in ERA (1.89) with a 3-1 record across eight appearances and three starts, allowing just nine earned runs in 33.1 innings pitched. She has been at her best when USD has needed it most — delivering shutout ball in the team's first win of the season over Cal Poly (Feb. 6, 5.0 IP), throwing a complete-game shutout vs. Montana (Feb. 21) to snap a four-game losing streak, and tossing 6.1 innings of one-run ball to earn the win vs. UMKC (Feb. 28). Her ability to start or provide extended relief innings gives head coach MJ Knighten flexibility entering WCC play.

USD PICKED SIXTH IN 2025 WCC PRESEASON POLL
• San Diego was picked sixth in the WCC Coaches Preseason Poll the West Coast Conference announced on Wednesday afternoon as part of its 2026 Softball Preseason Honors.
• USD took home the sixth spot in the league's 2026 poll with 11 points, putting it four points ahead of Portland, which was picked seventh. San Diego placed fifth in the poll in 2025 and was tied for second in 2024.

2026 WCC SOFTBALL COACHES PRESEASON POLL
1. Santa Clara - 36 points (6)
2. Saint Mary's - 31 points (1)
3. Oregon State – 22 points
4. LMU – 21 points
5. Seattle U – 19 points
6. San Diego – 11 points
7. Pacific – 7 points

2026 WCC SOFTBALL PRESEASON TEAM (POSITION PLAYERS)
• Amanda Bricker, Pacific
• Sam Buckley, Saint Mary's
• Taryn Clements, Santa Clara
• Cairah Curran, Santa Clara
• Taylor Fitch, Seattle U
• Hazyl Gray, Santa Clara
• Izzy Jamgotchian, LMU                            
• Justine Lambert, LMU
• Jada Lewis, Oregon State
• Mikee Morris, Seattle U
• Olivia Silvestre, Pacific
• Karen Spadafora, Seattle U
 
2026 WCC SOFTBALL PRESEASON TEAM (PITCHERS)
• Cari Ferguson, Santa Clara
• Mia Nishikawa, Saint Mary's
• Berkley Vance, Seattle U
• Odhi Vasquez, Saint Mary's

PROVEN RETURNERS
#1 Kaitlyn Wynia | OF | JR | Torrance, CA | Torrance High School 
• Appeared and started in 38 of her team's games in 2025 as a sophomore
• Hit for a slash line of .328/.391/.379 with 9 RBI; led USD in batting average
• Totaled 11 multi-hit games last season, notching three in one game on three occasions 
• With more walks (11) than strikeouts on the season, her on-base percentage of .391 was third on the team and 23rd across the WCC

#14 Taylor Johnson | UT | SR | Seal Beach, CA | Los Alamitos High School 
• Appeared in 47 games and started in 45 as the team's primary first baseman in 2025
• Posted a slash line of .321/.400/.575, and led the team in slugging with a percentage of .575, aided by her seven doubles and team-leading nine home runs and 37 RBI
• Was the 2024 WCC Batting Champion and a 2024 WCC First Team selection as a sophomore in 2024

#5 Michelle Delgado | INF | JR | Santa Ana, CA | Segerstrom High School 
• Appeared and started in 45 games as the team's primary third baseman in 2025
• Posted a slash line of .318/.396/.409, and her .805 OPS was second best on the team, along with her SLG at third best and OBP at second best
• Led the team in assists with 84 and had a fielding percentage of .976 at the hot corner

#10 Shawnese Hogue-Lacy  | C/UT | SR | Fairfield, CA | Vanden High School 
• Appeared in 36 games and started in 33 as the team's primary catcher in 2025
• Broke out by posting a slash line of .313/.340/.434, boosted by six total extra base hits on the season, hitting two doubles, two triples, and two home runs, along with six RBI
• Had a fielding percentage of .975, making only four errors in 160 chances and threw out six runners attempting to steal a base 

#6 Kelsey Tadlock | LHP | SR | San Marcos, CA | San Marcos High School 
• Pitched in 33 games and started in 13 in 2025
• Threw a team leading four complete games amassing 105 innings pitched
• Struck out a team-high 87 batters while accumulating a 3.47 ERA

WORKING THE PORTAL
• San Diego picked up a pair of transfers in the portal this season from Miami (OH), and Sonoma State. 
Those players are:
#9 Kaylee Oh | OF | JR | Miami (OH) | Oregon State 
• Oh, a Murrieta, California native, heads to USD after spending her Sophomore year at Miami (OH), and her freshman season at Oregon State. 
• Oh excelled during the 2025 season competing for Miami (OH) as she started in all 61 of her team's games and was selected to the MAC All-Tournament team. 
• Providing a great spark at the top of the lineup, she posted a .307 batting average to go along with six home runs and 32 RBIs while also showcasing her speed with 17 stolen bases.
• Her time with the RedHawks featured numerous highlights including her first collegiate home run against Georgia State, 15 multi-hit games, a three-hit performance against Ball State in the MAC Tournament and a pair of hits in a victory over North Carolina in the 2025 NCAA Regionals.  

#21 Charlie Johnson | RHP | SR | Sonoma State 
• Johnson, a San Diego native who attended nearby Del Norte High School, comes to the Toreros after spending the last three seasons competing for Division II Sonoma State in the Bay Area,  where she made 94 career appearances, posting a 37-23 overall record to go along with a microscopic 1.86 ERA in 388.2 innings.
• During her time at Sonoma State she earned five CCAA Pitcher of the Week awards and was a First Team All-Region and All-Conference honoree during the 2025 season.
• Not afraid to pitch deep into games, Johnson threw 23 complete games in 29 starts during her junior season at Sonoma State. Pitching in relief in her final appearance this last season, Johnson kept her team in the game by throwing 5.1 innings and allowing just one unearned run against Concordia. 

RISING TOREROS
Head coach MJ Knighten brought in six first-year players as part of USD's 2025 freshman class.
Those players are:
#7 Liliana Esparza | UT | Las Vegas, NV | Green Valley High School 
• Played for head coach AJ Coleman and Green Valley High School and for Ken Briggs on the BSC Bengals 18U club team
• Two-time Nevada 5A state champion (2021 and 2022)
• Also played basketball, soccer, volleyball and flag football

#12 Seleny Chavez | UT | Nipomo, CA | St. Joseph High School
• Played for head coach Anthony Razo at St. Joseph High School and for Rob Weil on the Wildcats Fastpitch club team
• 2024 All CSO First Team selection, 2024 CIF Central Section champions
• Grew up in a small farming community and was raised and shaped by the legacy of her parents and grandparents as strawberry farmers 

#22 Adiah Fountain | C/UT | Northridge, CA | Notre Dame High School
• Played for head coach Justin Siegel at Notre Dame High School and for Ray Gurule at the BSC Bengals Gurule club team
• Clubbed 34 home runs during her high school career and posted a 1.75 catcher pop time

#23 Analesse "Peanut" Garcia | RHP | Chula Vista, CA | Mater Dei HS
• Played for head coach Liz Centrullo at Mater Dei High School and for Bobby Labs on the Breakers Lab 18U Gold Bobby club team
• Her last two years of high school she posted a 14-3 record a 1.58 ERA and 99 strikeouts
• Is related to San Diego Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla

#25 Ava Rojas | OF | Benicia, CA | Benicia High School
• Played for head coach Kristen Grubbs at Benicia HS and for the Lady Magic club team under head coach Steve Walling
• Four year varsity player at Benicia HS and has played for her travel ball team since she was seven years old
• Has two older cousins, Madison and Aysle Rojas who played softball at UC Davis

#26 Abrielle Diaz | INF | Riverside, CA | Grand Terrace High School 
• Competed at Grand Terrace High School and for the California Lite 18U club team
• Four year varsity softball player and served as team captain her senior year
• Posted a .431 batting average her junior season

HOMETOWN HEROES
Eight players on the 2026 USD roster hail from the San Diego area and attended local high schools.
Those players are:
• INF Hailey Mulligan | San Diego, CA | El Capitan High School
• LHP Kelsey Tadlock | San Marcos, CA | San Marcos High School
• LHP Alex Riggs | San Diego, CA | Academy of Our Lady of Peace
• OF Dalia Powell | San Diego, CA | University City High School
• UT Mallory Axline | San Diego, CA | Cathedral Catholic High School
• RHP Charlie Johnson | San Diego, CA | Del Norte High School
• RHP Analesse "Peanut" Garcia | Chula Vista, CA | Mater Dei High School
• P/UT Emma Giaime | San Diego, CA | Del Norte High School

2026 SCHEDULE NOTES:
• 51 games
• 28 home games
• 22 away games
• 18 WCC games
• 33 non-conference games
• 9 home WCC games
• 9 away WCC games
• 19 home non-conference games
• 6 away non-conference games
• 8 neutral-site games
• 43 games in California
• 28 games in San Diego 
• 5 games in Arizona
• 3 games in Oregon