GULF SHORES SPORTSPLEX | GULF SHORES, Ala. - The Coastal Alabama - South Softball team hosted the 2026 Coyote Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala. on Feb. 13-14, welcoming several NJCAA programs to south Alabama for the annual tournament. The Coyotes played four games during the weekend-long tourney, winning three in the process. Additionally, two of the three wins for the 'Yotes resulted in run-rule wins.
Coastal - South totaled 43 runs and improves the overall record on the young 2026 season to 6-4.
Game One (Friday): Coastal Alabama - South 15, Motlow State 5 (5 Innings)
The Coyotes opened action in Gulf Shores on Friday morning with a meeting against Motlow State (Tenn.), eventually defeating the Bucks 15-5 in five innings. The tournament-opener was highlighted by an eight-run second inning for the 'Yotes, with Coastal - South setting the tone early. Motlow State answered with a four-run inning in the third, but Coastal - South responded with a four-run inning of its own one frame later and put the game away.
Reigning ACCC D-I Softball Player of the Week Sydni Carpenter put together another strong showing at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Brianna Ryan paced the offense with a 3-for-4 day at the dish, also driving in three runs. Meanwhile, Riley Dunnam recorded Coastal - South's lone extra-base hit of the game with a double, adding a RBI and two runs scored. The offense tallied 16 hits, four walks, and struck out just one time. Additionally, 17 Coyotes were left on base in the convincing win.
From the pitcher's circle, three Coyotes combined to toss the five innings, with Sam Daniels starting the game with two scoreless innings and allowing just one hit.
Game Two (Friday): Coastal Alabama - South 4, Gulf Coast State 3
In a much more competitive game later on Friday, Coastal - South edged Gulf Coast State (Fla.) by just one run, 4-3. Gulf Coast State opened the game with a strong three-run first inning, but was shut down by the Coyotes pitching staff for the remainder of the game. Meanwhile, the 'Yotes cut into the 3-0 deficit with single runs across the third and fifth innings before grabbing the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth. From there, Coastal held on for the one-run victory.
From the rubber, Jacey Reed threw a complete game in line for the win. Minus Reed's first inning where three runs scored, the freshman settled in threw a shutout across the final six frames. Reed finished with three hits allowed, three walks and three strikeouts.Â
Riley Bennett drove in two crucial runs in the win, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate, while Jacey Reed helped her own cause with an RBI. Only one of the four Coyote runs to cross home plate were earned against the Gulf Coast State pitching staff as the 'Yotes took advantage of three total errors against the opposition.
Game Three (Saturday): Johnson County CC 5, Coastal Alabama - South 2
Entering Saturday's action 2-0, the Coyotes slipped up in the first of two games on the final day of the weekend tournament, falling 5-2 to Johnson County Community College (Kan.). Coastal - South opened the scoring with runs in the first and third frames, leading 2-0 entering the middle innings. However, Johnson County scored twice in the fourth, while adding a three-run sixth inning to earn a comeback victory over the 'Yotes.
Despite the loss, Riley Dunnam and Brianna Ryan each added two more hits to their tournament performance, with both players driving in a run apiece. The Coyotes recorded eight hits in the loss and eventually left 10 runners on base. From the circle, Sam Daniels was charged with the loss, allowing three runs off five hits, while Jacey Reed allowed one run in relief. Johnson County finished the game with just six hits.Â
Game Four (Saturday): Coastal Alabama - South 22, Moberly Area 3 (5 Innings)
The 'Yotes responded to the earlier loss in a big way, ending the Coyote Classic with a 22-3 victory in run-rule fashion. The bats exploded for Coastal - South, with the team recording 10 hits and working a whopping 17 base-on-balls in the win. Additionally, 23 Coyotes were left on base in the blowout, showing how frequent Coastal - South was on the base paths.
Outfielder Raeleigh Hocker doubled and walked three times in the victory, driving in a team-high four RBIs in the process, while fellow outfielder Madison Griffith finished a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk. Riley Bennett's strong tournament showing continued with the second baseman scoring three runs and finishing 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two walks, and Riley Dunnam ended the weekend 1-for-3 with three RBIs.
On the rubber, Anna Robin picked up the win with four innings of work, allowing just four hits and two earned runs. Robin struck out four and did not issue a walk. Brooke Cooper closed things out and allowed one run off two hits in her lone inning from the circle, walking a pair.Â
Four-Straight on the Road
Following the successful showing in Gulf Shores, the Coyotes are set for four additional road games across the next week, starting with a non-divisional doubleheader in the ACCC against Bishop State (Ala.) on Friday, Feb. 20. Friday's doubleheader is slated to start at 12:00 p.m. CT and will be played in Mobile, Ala.
The Coyotes will then take on Reid State (Ala.) in a doubleheader on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
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