JOHNSON CITY, TENN. — Fresh off an opening weekend of non-conference action, the Tennessee State softball team heads east for the Bucs Tournament, hosted by East Tennessee State University, from Friday, Feb. 20 through Sunday, Feb. 22.

The Tigers will play five games over three days, facing ETSU and Bowling Green State University in a tournament that provides an early-season test against regional competition. Tennessee State opens the weekend with a Friday afternoon matchup against the host Buccaneers before closing the event with a pair of games on Sunday.

Tennessee State enters the weekend looking to build momentum after opening the season at home. While the results did not fall in the Tigers' favor, the opening series provided valuable reps and showcased flashes of offensive balance as the team continues to establish chemistry and consistency early in the year.

Tennessee State at the Bucs Tournament
Dates: Friday–Sunday, Feb. 20–22, 2026
Location: Johnson City, Tenn.
Host: East Tennessee State University

Game Schedule (ET)
Friday, Feb. 20 – at ETSU, 4:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. CT)
Saturday, Feb. 21 – at ETSU, 10:30 a.m. (9:30 a.m. CT)
Saturday, Feb. 21 – vs. Bowling Green, 3:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. CT)
Sunday, Feb. 22 – vs. Bowling Green, 1:00 p.m. (12:00 p.m. CT)
Sunday, Feb. 22 – at ETSU, 3:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. CT)

Against ETSU, Tennessee State holds a 2–1 advantage in the all-time series. The Tigers most recently earned a 4–3 victory in 2019 and will face the Buccaneers three times over the course of the weekend.

Tennessee State and Bowling Green have split two previous meetings, with each team recording a shutout victory. The Tigers' last win in the series came in 2018, a 5–0 result on the road.

Offensively, Tennessee State has shown encouraging signs through the first three games of the season. The Tigers are batting .262 as a team with 22 hits and 17 runs scored, while posting a .337 on-base percentage. Jace Jackson has been a catalyst at the top of the lineup, batting .545 with six hits, including a triple, and three RBI. Alexis Woods has added consistency with a .364 average, while Hailey Hunt and Kailyn Jean-Baptiste have provided production in the middle of the order. Jean-Baptiste has reached base at a .455 clip, combining patience with early extra-base ability.

The Bucs Tournament serves as an early measuring stick for Tennessee State, offering multiple chances to gain experience, sharpen execution, and continue developing depth across the lineup in a multi-game setting.

Following the Bucs Tournament, Tennessee State will remain on the road, traveling to Macon, Georgia, to compete in the MUSB Tournament hosted by Mercer University. The Tigers will continue non-conference play as they prepare for the remainder of the 2026 schedule and the upcoming Ohio Valley Conference season.