How to Watch the 2026 ACC Softball Tournament with Schedule, Bracket, TV Channel

The Virginia Cavaliers are set to host the 2026 ACC Softball Tournament at Palmer Park starting Wednesday, May 6, and ending on Saturday, May 8.

The single-elimination tournament features 12 teams with the winner earning an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The Clemson Tigers won their first ACC title last year, and Florida State has won the most tournament titles with 19.

Bracket

2026 ACC Softball Standings

1. Florida State
2. Duke
3. Virginia Tech
4. Louisville
5. Stanford
6. Virginia
7. Clemson
8. Notre Dame
9. Georgia Tech
10. North Carolina
11. Pitt
12. NC State
13. Cal
14. Syracuse
15. Boston College

Only the top 12 team qualify.

2026 ACC Tournament Schedule and TV Channel

First round: Wednesday, May 6

Game 1 | No. 8 Notre Dame 3, No. 9 Georgia Tech 13 (5 inn.)

Game one was all Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets scored 13 runs on nine hits in a dominate first round victory over Notre Dame. GT's offense was highlighted by Addison Leschber (2B, HR, 5 RBI), Emma Simon (2-for-2, 2 2B, RBI), and Alyssa Willer (1-for-3, HR, 3RBI).

Georgia Tech put up a crooked number in all but one inning. It was the 11th time this season the Yellow Jackets scored 10 or more runs in a single contest.

In the circle, Madalyn Johnson went the distance, striking out six and walking one in 22 batters faced.

Notre Dame had a tough time getting anything going. The Fighting Irish scratched three across in the bottom of the fourth and tallied three of their five hits that same inning.

Ultimately, four runners left, five defensive miscues and a strong Georgia Tech offense would be too much. Notre Dame was eliminated from the tournament and thus concluded its 2026 campaign.

Game 2 | No. 5 Louisville 6, No. 12 NC State 5

Trailing by one in the bottom of the seventh, the Louisville Cardinals came back to tie it up, and eventually walked it off on an RBI double by Madison Pickens to keep their ACC title hopes alive.

The Cardinals scored one early but NC State quickly answered back in the top of the third and added four more in the fifth.

All of NC State's starting lineup recorded at least one hit, led by Makayla Marbury (2-for-3, 2B) and Hannah Church (1-for-3, HR, RBI).

Louisville began to chip away at the deficit in the fifth. Three runs on three singles from Easton Lotus, Camryn Lookadoo, and Pickens put the Cardinals back in the game.

The heart of the Cardinals' lineup would do it again in the seventh. Bri Despines doubled and both Lookadoo and Pickens clutched up to complete the comeback. An RBI single followed by an RBI double would eliminate NC State from ACC contention.

Each team left a total of six runners on base. Despite being out hit 11-to-9, Louisville executed when it mattered most.

Game 3 | No. 7 Clemson 2, No. 10 North Carolina 4

North Carolina's third ranked victory of the season couldn't have come at a better time as the Tar Heels upset Clemson 4-2 in round one of the ACC Tournament.

UNC jumped on the board early and never looked back. One run in the first, a pair in the third and another in the fourth would be enough for the Tar Heels to complete their second triumph ever over the Tigers.

North Carolina recorded six hits, two from its lead off in Sanaa Thompson, including a home run to deep left, her 14th of the season. Emily Legette and Michele Tarpey both went 1-for-3 in the contest, Legette scoring on Tarpey's single in the top of the first.

The Tigers had plenty of opportunities throughout the game, but left a total of 10 on base. Taylor Pipkins hit a solo shot in the third, but the Tar Heels were able to limit the damage.

UNC's pitchers Kendall Frost and Jil Livengood combined for four strikeouts, surrendering just one earned run throughout seven innings of play.

Game 4 | No. 6 Virginia 2, No. 11 Pitt 1

Virginia reigned supreme in the second walk off of the day, as part of the ACC Championship, with a nail biting win over Pitt, 2-1.

Pitt scored first by way of a hit by pitch, sac bunt, and a single to right field by Ahmari Braden. The Panthers threatened with more that same inning, but Cavalier starting pitcher Courtney Layne was able to work out of the jam.

UVA waited until the sixth to tie the game on a home run from Macee Eaton to straight away centerfield.

Carrying momentum from the previous inning, Cavaliers' catcher Reagan Hickey split a gap to lead off the seventh. The next batter, Kelsey Hackett placed a bunt to the left side of the pitcher's glove hand. With Hackett's speed and the second baseman late to break towards the bag, Hackett not only beat the throw but forced a miscue in the field.

As the ball trickled into right field on the poor toss, UVA's pinch runner Kamyria Woody-Giggetts scored from second in front of a packed home stadium.

Virginia's Eden Bigham came in relief for Layne, tossing four extremely effective innings. She fanned seven and allowed just two hits in 14 batters to earn her 14th victory in the circle.

Quarterfinals: Thursday, May 7

Game 5 | No. 1 Florida State 2, No. 9 Georgia Tech 1

In a pitcher's duel between the ACC Pitcher of the Year from Florida State, Jazzy Francik, and Georgia Tech's Sydnie Watts, the Seminoles squeaked away with a 2-1 win to advance.

The Yellow Jackets scored in the third after a lead off triple from Raegan Wall and a sac fly from Holly Medina. FSU replied when Anna Hinde poked one through the right side to score Isa Torres from second base.

The winning run for Florida State would come in the fifth. The Seminoles loaded the bases on a double from Torres, a walk, and a hit by pitch. Bella Ruggerio wore one on an 0-0 count to move her teammates station to station and regain the advantage.

Francik threw 5.2 innings, allowed one earned run with four Ks and one walk. She was relieved by Ashtyn Danley who picked up the save in 1.1 innings of work.

Game 6 | No. 4 Stanford 6, No. 5 Louisville 5 (8 inn.)

Stanford walked it off on Louisville in the eighth upon textbook run production. A sacrifice fly from River Mahler to score Sophia Jin would be enough for the Card to hang on, 6-5.

Stanford had four individuals tally RBI including Boulaphinh, Mahler, Joie Economides and Taryn Kern (1-for-2, 2B). Chan went 2-for-5 with a double and Ava Gall was 2-for-3 in the box, contributing to the Card's nine total hits.

Louisville set the tone early, jumping ahead by two on a home run to centerfield from Bri Despines. The Card attacked right back, scoring four runs on five hits in the bottom half of the first inning.

In the third, Louisville hit back-to-back jacks with Despines getting ahold of her second deep fly of the game and Madison Pickens tying it up with a solo shot of her own.

The Cardinals would plate one more in the top of the seventh to force extras. A bases loaded walk on four straight pitches outside of the zone to Camryn Lookadoo evened the game at five a piece.

Two hits, a walk, and a well hit sac fly to center to gave Jin plenty of time to tag from third base as Stanford celebrated the late inning heroics. The Card threw three pitchers, including Zoe Prystajko who earned her 20th victory of the year. She fanned six and allowed just three hits and one run though 5.1 innings in control.

Game 7 | No. 2 Duke 16, No. 10 North Carolina 8 (6 inn.)

Duke's Jessica Oakland went 4-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI to pace the Blue Devils to a 16-8 success over North Carolina. Just when it seemed as if an upset was brewing, Duke returned the big inning beat down, plus some more.

The Tar Heels saw two players cross home on RBI singles from Michele Tarpey and Raegen Jennings to get things going.

Duke replied with four runs in the bottom of the second. Adelyn Matthews singled in the infield before Oakland cleared the bases on her first double of the game.

11 runs were scored in the fourth across both teams. Five hits and a costly error from Duke led to five runs for the Tar Heels. Emily LeGette launched a two-run shot to center, backed by another four-bagger from Shelby Barbee right after to push the lead, 8-4.

Duke scored six runs in the fourth and again in the sixth, ending the game by way of mercy-rule.

Six Blue Devils recorded multi-hit games in addition to Oakland. KK Mathis (3-for-4, 2 RBI) and Gabriella Shadek (3-for-4, 2B) showed up offensively, as Mathis also picked up the win on the mound.

Game 8 | No. 3 Virginia Tech 3, No. 6 Virginia 1

Three runs were enough for Virginia Tech to hold out against the home team Virginia Cavaliers, 3-1.

In the bottom of the third, VT's Addison Foster tripled down the right and a throwing error by the second baseman allowed Foster to race home.

In the fourth, a walk, wild pitch and two doubles by Zoe Yaeger and Annika Rohs would suffice for the Hokies run production.

Virginia threatend in the seventh after an infield hit, an error, and a walk plated Jaiden Griffith.

Despite the final inning torture, Hokie's Emma Mazzarone was able to finish the job. The junior threw a complete game with 14 Ks, scattering four hits and allowed just one run to help advance her team to the ACC Semifinals.

Semifinals: Friday, May 8

Game 9 | No. 1 Florida State 9, No. 4 Stanford 0 (5 inn.)

Florida State is moving on to the ACC Championship upon defeating Stanford 9-0 in a 5 inning shortened, mercy-rule triumph. The first-ranked Seminoles scored three in the first, two in the second, and another four in the fourth.

FSU's pitchers in starter Bella Dimitrijevic and Ashtyn Danley, in relief, combined for a two-hit shut out. Dimitrijevic fanned four in 4.0 innings of work for her seventh win of the season.

Danley also got it done in the box, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI. Isa Torres and Makena Sturgis were both a perfect 2-for-2. Jaysoni Beachum also contributed 2 RBI with a clutch base knock.

It was all FSU from the start as the Seminoles outhit the Card 9-2.

Game 10 | No. 2 Duke 0, No. 3 Virginia Tech 5

Virginia Tech secured a spot in the championship game after upsetting the No. 2 seed Duke, 5-0.

The bats were hot for VT as four different Hokies left the yard to account for all five runs. Michelle Chatfield (2-for-3, RBI), Kylie Alridge (1-for-4, 2 RBI), Nora Abromavage (1-for-4, RBI), and Rachel Castine (1-for-3, RBI) highlighted the Hokies' run production.

VT's Bree Carrico proved why she was named ACC Freshman of the Year. The rookie went 5.2 innings, collecting four strikeouts and surrendered just three hits, allowing zero runs. Emma Mazzarone finished the job in 1.1 innings tossed including three Ks, to pick up the save.

Championship: Saturday, May 9

Game 11 | No. 1 Florida State 2, No. 3 Virginia Tech 1

No. 1 seed Florida State was crowned the 2026 ACC Tournament Champion after defeating No. 3 Virginia Tech, 2-1 on Saturday. Adding to their regular season title with a 49-8 overall record (21-3 ACC), it was also the Seminoles' 20th time completing the tournament feat.

All three runs of the game came in the early innings. The Hokies struck first when Michelle Chatfield hit an infield single. An errant throw from the shortstop allowed Jordan Lynch to score from second.

Florida State scored two runs on one hit in the bottom half of inning two. A lead off walk led to Kennedy Harp double that brought Bella Ruggiero all the way around. Harp later scored on a passed ball to put the Seminoles up by one.

Jazzy Francik was lights out once again in the circle, on her way to winning ACC Championship MVP. She faced 22 batters in 6.0 innings, scattering three hits and retired the Hokies by way of the strikeout six times.

Danley showcased her effective relief. She gave up one hit and zero runs in the 1.0 inning thrown.

*All times are Eastern

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