CARROLLTON, Ga. - The final installment of our position previews for the 2026 UWG softball team breaks down the pitchers and catchers for the Wolves ahead of their second season of Atlantic Sun Conference play.
UWG is just over a week away from beginning their 2026 season by hosting Bellarmine, Drexel, Austin Peay, and Georgia State for a tournament on campus on February 6-8.
When the Wolves take the field next week, they'll do so with some familiar faces in the circle while also trying to find a new everyday catcher.
Calli Hardison is back after a junior season that saw her post career-bests in innings pitched and ERA. The Gainesville native had a 4.03 ERA over 100.2 innings and tossed seven complete games.
Who will be catching the UWG ace, is wide open according to head coach Kristy Burton, but the Wolves have three returners who hope to see time. They all have big shoes to fill in Blaire Bizette who finished her career with the highest career average all-time, hitting .385 in two seasons while slugging 20 home runs.
UWG brings back Sky Ramos, Emma Nixon, and Tamia Young returns from an injury. Ramos hit .368 in 21 games played while earning 16 starts in 2025. Nixon saw limited action after returning from an injury in 2025, but hit .308 with three home runs as a true freshman in 2023.
Burton also brought in a pair of freshmen catchers in Victoria Hardy and Issy Overton.
In the circle, UWG also has Jenna Samuel and Dixana Sims back. Samuel was second on the team with a 4.61 ERA in 2025 with a team high five victories. Sims led the team in appearances with 31 and pitched to a 6.17 ERA. Kaprice Leonard also saw time in the circle in 2025 and returns in 2026.
Delaney Hoyle is the lone transfer pitcher joining the roster in 2026. Hoyle, a potential two-way player, saw action in seven games at Portland in 2025 and made one pitching appearance, tossing two innings against Florida State.
Burton brought in a pair of true freshman pitchers, Abigail Helms and Cacie Cutright. Both were two-way players in their prep careers but project to primarily pitch at the collegiate level.
The Wolves are set to open their 2026 season on February 6 as part of the West Georgia Classic. UWG will host four teams for a weekend tournament that features 13 total softball games in three days on UWG's campus. Friday's schedule for that weekend features UWG opening with Bellarmine and Austin Peay.
