Upcoming Event: Softball versus Bryant on February 6, 2026 at 3:00 P.M.
Softball
vs Bryant
3:00 P.M.
Providence College Athletics
Friday, February 6
College Station, TX
3:00 P.M.
Providence College
vs
Bryant
Photo by: Geoff Bolte
Providence College Softball Opens 2026 Season at Texas A&M
2/4/2026 12:52:00 PM | Softball
The Friars will play five games at the Aggie Classic from Feb. 6-8.
PROVIDENCE, R.I.- The Providence College softball team is set to begin its 2026 season at the Aggie Classic, hosted by No. 11 Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. The Friars will compete in five games from February 6-8. They open the tournament with a double header on February 6 against Bryant at 3:00 p.m. (ET) and host No. 11 Texas A&M at 5:30 p.m. (ET). On February 7, Providence will take on Utah State at 3:00 p.m. (ET), followed by a matchup against No.1 Texas Tech at 8:00 p.m. (ET). The Friars will wrap up the tournament on February 8 with a rematch against Texas A&M at 10:30 a.m. (ET).
"We are excited to build upon our strong finish in last year's BIG EAST tournament and begin the season against top-rated competition," Head Coach Kelsey Christensen said. "Similar to last year, these tough preseason match ups will prepare us for success in a tough conference. We can't wait to hit the ground running with lots of new faces as we grow and take this program to new heights."
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TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, February 6
Providence vs Bryant 3:00 p.m. (ET) LIVE STATS
Providence vs #11 Texas A&M 5:30 p.m. (ET) LIVE STATS | LIVE STREAM
Saturday, February 7
Providence vs Utah State 3:00 p.m. (ET) LIVE STATS
Providence vs #1 Texas Tech 8:00 p.m. (ET) LIVE STATS
Sunday, February 8
 Providence vs #11 Texas A&M 10:30 a.m. (ET) LIVE STATS | LIVE STREAMÂ
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SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
The Friars completed the season with a 25-31 overall record, including an 11-13 mark in the BIG EAST. Providence finished sixth in the final BIG EAST standings and broke program records for stolen bases (51) and triples (18). The Friars earned their 12th appearance into the BIG EAST Softball Championship. The sixth-seeded Friars went on a postseason run, earning upset wins over No. 3 Villanova, No. 4 Butler and top-seeded St. John's. It marked the Friars' first postseason win in 30 years.
Providence returns 13 student-athletes, including graduate student Tori Grifone (Sussex, N.J.), seniors Elisa Smith (Glenn Allen, Va.) and Gabriella Lee (Belmont, Calif.), and juniors Alyssa Twomey (Warwick, R.I.) and Cameron Dunn (Bothell, Wash.), all of whom received BIG EAST recognitions last season.
Grifone and Smith both earned All-BIG EAST Second Team selections last year. Grifone led the pitching staff with a 10-11 record and 115.2 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .256 batting average. Grifone pitched six complete games and recorded 67 strikeouts.
Smith led the Friars in batting average (.390), total hits (67) and triples (seven). Her 67 hits ranks second on the program's all-time single-season list while her 42 runs are tied for third-most in a single season in program history.
Lee started all 56 games for the Friars, recording a .304 batting average, .327 slugging percentage and a .366 on-base percentage. She is tied for a team-best 16 stolen bases across 18 attempts. Lee earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors in 2024.
Twomey pitched in 29 games, making 21 starts and pitching 111.1 innings. She pitched six complete games and dished out 69 strikeouts. Twomey was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on March 24 and was named to the 2025 All-BIG EAST Tournament Team. During the Friars' postseason run, she played a pivotal role in the circle, posting a 3-2 record and recording five strikeouts in the Friars' upset win over top-seeded St. John's. In her freshman campaign, Twomey was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week two times (2/26/24, 3/25/24) and earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week three times (2/26/24, 4/15/24, 4/30/24).
Dunn led the Providence squad in home runs (10), slugging percentage (.655) and RBIs (41) a season ago. Dunn was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on March 24.
The Friars welcome one transfer, Zoe Krizan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and eight freshmen, Sofia Lieto (Monroe, Conn.), Brooke Aldrich (Taunton, Mass.), Grace Brooks (Meridian, Idaho), Emerson Buckley (Methuen, Mass.), Olivia Petrillo (Estero, Fla.), Addyson Frye (New Castle, Pa.), Dominique Gallardo (Lexington, S.C.) and Hailey Frantz (Danville, Calif.). This talented group is expected to make an immediate impact and play a key role in the Friars' success.
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The Friars were picked fifth in the 2026 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Poll.
Results (First Place Votes)
1. St. John's – 62 (6)
T2. Creighton – 51 (2)
T2. UConn – 51 (1)
4. Villanova – 50
5. Providence – 32
6. Butler – 31
7. Seton Hall – 24
8. DePaul – 15
9. Georgetown - 8
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SCOUTING BRYANT
The Bulldogs finished the 2025 season with a 22-32 overall record, including a 10-10 mark in America East Conference play. They were picked to finish second in the America East Preseason Poll.
Bryant returns four pitchers from last season, led by preseason All-Conference selection Lexi Powell. She posted a 4.90 ERA and started in nine games. Powell allowed 113 hits and 60 earned runs while tallying 38 strikeouts. Â
Offensively, Bryant returns key contributors Bryce Clendenin, Jaelynn Lee and Laniya Lewis. Lee hit .464 in conference play last season while Lewis posted career highs in both hits (21) and RBI (15). Clendenin recorded 42 hits and was named to the America East All-Rookie Team.
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SCOUTING No. 11 TEXAS A&M
The Aggies finished the 2025 season with a 48-11 overall record and 16-7 mark in the SEC. They are ranked 11th in the top 25 poll and picked to finish sixth in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Junior infielder Mya Perez was named to the All-SEC Preseason Team.
As a sophomore, Perez earned All-America Second Team, NFCA All-Region Second Team, and All-SEC First Team honors after setting a Texas A&M single season record with 73 RBI. She hit .424 with a .561 on-base percentage and .804 slugging percentage.
Sophomore pitcher Sydney Lessentine enters her second year in the circle for Texas A&M. She led the staff in ERA (2.85), WHIP (1.18) and opponent batting average (.179), while posting a 6-2 record with 79 strikeouts across 66.1 innings.
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SCOUTING UTAH STATE
Utah State finished last season 26-26 with an 11-11 record in conference games. Utah State was picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West Conference by the league's coaches in the preseason poll. The Senior duo of Grace Matej and Kya Pratt both earned spots on the Preseason All-Mountain West Team.
Matej is a two-time All-Mountain West honoree. As a junior last year, she played in and started 50 of the team's 52 games, posting a .327 batting average. Matej totaled 11 doubles, a triples and 10 home runs, while her 36 runs scored tied her for seventh most in a season in program history.
Pratt started in 46 games while making 49 appearances, ranking fifth on the team with .363 batting average. Pratt recorded 11 doubles and nine homeruns last season.
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SCOUTING No. 1 TEXAS TECH Â
The Red Raiders enter the 2026 season ranked No. 1 in the top 25 poll. Tech finished the 2025 season with a 54-14 record and made it all the way to the WCWS, losing in the semifinals to eventual national champion University of Texas Longhorns. The Red Raiders had the number one ranked transfer class this offseason. NiJaree Canady, Taylor Pannell and Mia Williams were named Preseason First Team All-Americans and Mihyia Davis earned Preseason Second Team All-American Honors. The Red Raiders have eight student athletes named to Softball America Top 100 Players. The Red Raiders were also picked to finish first in the BIG 12.Â
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ON DECK
The Friars will travel to Raleigh, N.C. to play in The Raleigh Times tournament hosted by NC State. Providence will play in five games from Feb. 20-22 consisting of two games against NC State, two games against Illinois and a matchup against Akron.
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-GO FRIARS!-
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"We are excited to build upon our strong finish in last year's BIG EAST tournament and begin the season against top-rated competition," Head Coach Kelsey Christensen said. "Similar to last year, these tough preseason match ups will prepare us for success in a tough conference. We can't wait to hit the ground running with lots of new faces as we grow and take this program to new heights."
Â
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, February 6
Providence vs Bryant 3:00 p.m. (ET) LIVE STATS
Providence vs #11 Texas A&M 5:30 p.m. (ET) LIVE STATS | LIVE STREAM
Saturday, February 7
Providence vs Utah State 3:00 p.m. (ET) LIVE STATS
Providence vs #1 Texas Tech 8:00 p.m. (ET) LIVE STATS
Sunday, February 8
 Providence vs #11 Texas A&M 10:30 a.m. (ET) LIVE STATS | LIVE STREAMÂ
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SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
The Friars completed the season with a 25-31 overall record, including an 11-13 mark in the BIG EAST. Providence finished sixth in the final BIG EAST standings and broke program records for stolen bases (51) and triples (18). The Friars earned their 12th appearance into the BIG EAST Softball Championship. The sixth-seeded Friars went on a postseason run, earning upset wins over No. 3 Villanova, No. 4 Butler and top-seeded St. John's. It marked the Friars' first postseason win in 30 years.
Providence returns 13 student-athletes, including graduate student Tori Grifone (Sussex, N.J.), seniors Elisa Smith (Glenn Allen, Va.) and Gabriella Lee (Belmont, Calif.), and juniors Alyssa Twomey (Warwick, R.I.) and Cameron Dunn (Bothell, Wash.), all of whom received BIG EAST recognitions last season.
Grifone and Smith both earned All-BIG EAST Second Team selections last year. Grifone led the pitching staff with a 10-11 record and 115.2 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .256 batting average. Grifone pitched six complete games and recorded 67 strikeouts.
Smith led the Friars in batting average (.390), total hits (67) and triples (seven). Her 67 hits ranks second on the program's all-time single-season list while her 42 runs are tied for third-most in a single season in program history.
Lee started all 56 games for the Friars, recording a .304 batting average, .327 slugging percentage and a .366 on-base percentage. She is tied for a team-best 16 stolen bases across 18 attempts. Lee earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors in 2024.
Twomey pitched in 29 games, making 21 starts and pitching 111.1 innings. She pitched six complete games and dished out 69 strikeouts. Twomey was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on March 24 and was named to the 2025 All-BIG EAST Tournament Team. During the Friars' postseason run, she played a pivotal role in the circle, posting a 3-2 record and recording five strikeouts in the Friars' upset win over top-seeded St. John's. In her freshman campaign, Twomey was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week two times (2/26/24, 3/25/24) and earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week three times (2/26/24, 4/15/24, 4/30/24).
Dunn led the Providence squad in home runs (10), slugging percentage (.655) and RBIs (41) a season ago. Dunn was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on March 24.
The Friars welcome one transfer, Zoe Krizan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and eight freshmen, Sofia Lieto (Monroe, Conn.), Brooke Aldrich (Taunton, Mass.), Grace Brooks (Meridian, Idaho), Emerson Buckley (Methuen, Mass.), Olivia Petrillo (Estero, Fla.), Addyson Frye (New Castle, Pa.), Dominique Gallardo (Lexington, S.C.) and Hailey Frantz (Danville, Calif.). This talented group is expected to make an immediate impact and play a key role in the Friars' success.
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The Friars were picked fifth in the 2026 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Poll.
Results (First Place Votes)
1. St. John's – 62 (6)
T2. Creighton – 51 (2)
T2. UConn – 51 (1)
4. Villanova – 50
5. Providence – 32
6. Butler – 31
7. Seton Hall – 24
8. DePaul – 15
9. Georgetown - 8
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SCOUTING BRYANT
The Bulldogs finished the 2025 season with a 22-32 overall record, including a 10-10 mark in America East Conference play. They were picked to finish second in the America East Preseason Poll.
Bryant returns four pitchers from last season, led by preseason All-Conference selection Lexi Powell. She posted a 4.90 ERA and started in nine games. Powell allowed 113 hits and 60 earned runs while tallying 38 strikeouts. Â
Offensively, Bryant returns key contributors Bryce Clendenin, Jaelynn Lee and Laniya Lewis. Lee hit .464 in conference play last season while Lewis posted career highs in both hits (21) and RBI (15). Clendenin recorded 42 hits and was named to the America East All-Rookie Team.
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SCOUTING No. 11 TEXAS A&M
The Aggies finished the 2025 season with a 48-11 overall record and 16-7 mark in the SEC. They are ranked 11th in the top 25 poll and picked to finish sixth in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Junior infielder Mya Perez was named to the All-SEC Preseason Team.
As a sophomore, Perez earned All-America Second Team, NFCA All-Region Second Team, and All-SEC First Team honors after setting a Texas A&M single season record with 73 RBI. She hit .424 with a .561 on-base percentage and .804 slugging percentage.
Sophomore pitcher Sydney Lessentine enters her second year in the circle for Texas A&M. She led the staff in ERA (2.85), WHIP (1.18) and opponent batting average (.179), while posting a 6-2 record with 79 strikeouts across 66.1 innings.
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SCOUTING UTAH STATE
Utah State finished last season 26-26 with an 11-11 record in conference games. Utah State was picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West Conference by the league's coaches in the preseason poll. The Senior duo of Grace Matej and Kya Pratt both earned spots on the Preseason All-Mountain West Team.
Matej is a two-time All-Mountain West honoree. As a junior last year, she played in and started 50 of the team's 52 games, posting a .327 batting average. Matej totaled 11 doubles, a triples and 10 home runs, while her 36 runs scored tied her for seventh most in a season in program history.
Pratt started in 46 games while making 49 appearances, ranking fifth on the team with .363 batting average. Pratt recorded 11 doubles and nine homeruns last season.
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SCOUTING No. 1 TEXAS TECH Â
The Red Raiders enter the 2026 season ranked No. 1 in the top 25 poll. Tech finished the 2025 season with a 54-14 record and made it all the way to the WCWS, losing in the semifinals to eventual national champion University of Texas Longhorns. The Red Raiders had the number one ranked transfer class this offseason. NiJaree Canady, Taylor Pannell and Mia Williams were named Preseason First Team All-Americans and Mihyia Davis earned Preseason Second Team All-American Honors. The Red Raiders have eight student athletes named to Softball America Top 100 Players. The Red Raiders were also picked to finish first in the BIG 12.Â
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ON DECK
The Friars will travel to Raleigh, N.C. to play in The Raleigh Times tournament hosted by NC State. Providence will play in five games from Feb. 20-22 consisting of two games against NC State, two games against Illinois and a matchup against Akron.
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-GO FRIARS!-
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Players Mentioned
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