Photo Gallery | 2026 CUSA Softball Championship Central
 
NEWARK, Del. – No. 1 Jax State overcame a 4-0 deficit to earn its first CUSA Softball Championship crown with a 7-4 victory over No. 3 Liberty on Saturday afternoon at the Delaware Softball Diamond.
 
Designated player Amber Reed tallied a pair of RBI, including a game-tying sac fly as part of a four-run fourth and a run-scoring double in the home half of the sixth that served as the game-winning run. Outfielder Kailey Martin put the nail in the coffin with a two-run shot on the ensuing at-bat.
 
Pitcher Mackinley Portillo (9-6) earned the win after controlling the Liberty lineup in 4.2 innings of relief, allowing just one run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts. With the title game on the line, she retired the final six batters of the game to secure the victory.
 
Reed and Portillo were joined on the CUSA Softball Championship All-Tournament Team by infielder Jaci Underwood, outfielder Haleigh Cushingberry and Morgan Nowakowski, the championship’s Most Valuable Player. Nowakowski hit .636 (7-11) with eight RBI, which is tied for the second most in a tournament in CUSA Softball Championship history.  
 
The Lady Flames (29-28) opened the scoring with back-to-back home runs from Brynn McManus and Savannah Jessee, who both continued their impressive runs at the CUSA Softball Championship. Both were honored for their efforts on the all-tournament squad after combining for 14 RBI, eight runs and four home runs in the event.
 
The Gamecocks (45-14) threatened in the opening frame, loading the bases with two outs before Liberty starter Camden Anders escaped the jam with her first punchout of the afternoon. Jax State went back to the well with another bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth as the first six Gamecocks reached safely, including three-straight walks with the bags full.
 
Anders (15-7) suffered her first loss of the championship after allowing four earned runs on five hits and five walks.
 
The Gamecocks will learn their regional placement on the 2026 NCAA Division I Softball Selection Show at 6 p.m. CT on Sunday, May 10, on ESPN.
 
2026 CUSA Softball Championship All-Tournament Team
C: Savannah Jessee, Liberty
DP: Amber Reed, Jax State
IF: Jaci Underwood, Jax State
IF: Savanah Whatley, Liberty
IF: Anna Mauck, WKU
IF: Bradi Gallaway, LA Tech
OF: Morgan Nowakowski, Jax State (MVP)
OF: Haleigh Cushingberry, Jax State
OF: Brynn McManus, Liberty
P: Mackinley Portilllo, Jax State
P: Camden Anders, Liberty
P: Erica Houge, WKU