FULLERTON – The Hope International softball program aims to qualify for its fourth straight NAIA Tournament appearance, entering the 2026 season under first-year head coach Gabriela Sandoval.
The Royals play a 50-game schedule, with 23 at home. The first four games will be contested at home against La Verne and Nelson.
Key Games
• vs. #1 Southern Oregon (DH) – Feb. 7
• vs. #10 Oregon Tech (DH) – Feb. 14
• vs. #6 Grand View – Feb. 20
• vs. #25 Evangel – Feb. 21
• vs. #16 Missouri Baptist – Feb. 22
• vs. Arizona Christian (DH) – Mar. 20 & 21
• at Embry-Riddle (DH) – Mar. 27 & 28
Strength of Schedule
• The GSAC advanced three teams to the NAIA Tournament in 2025 – champion Hope International, Embry-Riddle and Arizona Christian – comprising half of the six-team league.
• HIU defeated College of Idaho to reach the championship game of the Ashland Regional, falling to eventual national champion Southern Oregon. Both opponents are on this year's schedule.
• The Royals play 17 games against eight teams which played in the NAIA Tournament last season. In addition to nonconference doubleheaders against Southern Oregon, College of Idaho and Oregon Tech, HIU plays single games against Grand View, Evangel and Missouri Baptist.
• Grand View joined Southern Oregon in the 2025 College World Series field.
• HIU also plays a four-game GSAC series against NAIA Tournament participants Arizona Christian and Embry-Riddle.
• The Royals face five schools ranked in the NAIA preseason top 25 – No. 1 Southern Oregon, No. 10 Oregon Tech, No. 6 Grand View, No. 25 Evangel and No. 16 Missouri Baptist. College of Idaho and Benedictine (Kan.) are receiving votes.
Location Breakdown
• 23 home games
• 16 road games
• 11 neutral site games
Notes
• Hope International is ranked No. 21 nationally in the 2026 NAIA preseason poll. The Royals are the only GSAC team to start out this season nationally ranked.
• In 2025, the Royals finished 37-15 and won the GSAC regular season title with a 16-4 record. Not counting the shortened 2020 COVID season, the HIU program has posted 30 or more victories in eight consecutive seasons.
• HIU opens the 2026 season at home on January 31 with a doubleheader against La Verne.
• The first GSAC games take place on March 6 and 7 with doubleheaders on back-to-back days against OUAZ.
• The Royals play doubleheaders against College of Idaho, Oregon Tech and Simpson from February 13-15 in Arizona.
• HIU is also involved in the NAIA SB Invitational, playing five games in Shawnee, Okla. It is a loaded tournament with games against nationally ranked No. 6 Grand View, No. 25 Evangel and No. 16 Missouri Baptist. The Royals also tangle with RV Benedictine (Kan.) and Mid-America Christian.
