Coach Becky Clark Sees a Stronger, Deeper, and More Competitive Jaguars Roster Heading Into 2026
More Experienced and Ready to play: South Alabama Jaguars
Going into a season with great depth and a lot of newcomers expected to contribute immediately, Coach Becky Clark and the Jaguars of South Alabama are focused on making last season’s 20-31 finish a distant memory. The Jaguars put together a strong fall according to Coach Clark, and the overall feel around this roster points toward an upward trend.
Youth and injuries played a significant role in last season’s struggles, but with real depth now in place, this group looks far better equipped heading into 2026.
“I thought we had a great fall. We had 11 newcomers, four freshmen and seven transfers, so a lot of new people to integrate into our system. A really great group, not just great softball players but great people,” Clark said. “I thought our leadership was really good. Work ethic was great, very focused group, so I was very happy with the work we got in.”
“We have a lot more depth this year than we had last year. We were very young last year and kind of starting over after our 24 season. In the offseason we were able to add some quality depth, more athleticism, pitching, speed, and power. It was about integrating all of that, getting those players together, and getting them on the same page pulling in the same direction. I thought they did a great job with that.”
Last season the Jaguars hit just 30 home runs as a team. Twelve of those belonged to Gabby Stagner, who graduated. Fortunately for South Alabama there is another Stagner stepping into the lineup. Her younger sister Lillie is a freshman with the tools to make an immediate impact.
“We graduated Gabby, and she was huge for us. But we brought in her younger sister Lillie, who’s a freshman. I think Lillie is going to be everything Gabby was. She has tremendous power, she’s super competitive, doesn’t really get rattled, and I think as a freshman she’ll step in right away and help us with that same ability to leave the yard.”
Kara Wine and Gracie Dees are two more freshmen that Clark believes can elevate the offense in ways last year’s roster simply could not. Both bring advanced approaches for their age, and both showed throughout the fall that they can hit for average and drive the ball with authority.
“Kara is another local product from the panhandle of Florida,” Clark said. “She’s going to be a hit for average and hit for power kid who can go to all fields. And then Gracie Dees is another local player with real power. Looking at what they did in their prep careers and what they showed in the fall, we anticipate all three of those freshmen hitting in the top part of our order and giving us power we didn’t have last year.”
The newcomers do not stop there. South Alabama added multiple transfers with proven offensive numbers at their previous stops, creating a roster that looks far deeper and more balanced than a season ago. Former Troy standout Kayden Dunn brings strength to the middle of the order after hitting eight home runs last season.
Florida Southwestern transfer Virginia Mombelli arrives after hitting in the three hole for one of the top JUCO programs in the country. Sydney Stewart, who launched 16 home runs at Flagler, gives South Alabama another impact bat who can shape this lineup immediately.
“You add Kayden Dunn, who had eight home runs at Troy. Same thing, a lot of power and she can go to all fields,” Clark said. “Mombelli gives us doubles and home run potential from the left side, and she was driving balls out of the park in the fall, and Stewart was one of the top Division Two hitters last year. She brings even more strength to the middle of our infield and our lineup.”
Returning First Team All-Sun Belt performer Olivia Branstetter anchors everything. Last season, Olivia started all 48 games at third base and was very good with runners in scoring position, hitting .347 in those situations. If someone was at third with two outs or less, she was who you wanted at the plate, hitting .857 in those moments.
Her consistency and competitiveness set the tone, and when combined with the influx of talent around her, the Jaguars appear to have rebuilt an offense that can finally pressure teams in multiple ways.
While the offensive additions stand out, the biggest difference from last season might come in the circle. South Alabama returns right hander Ryley Harrison, who pitched through multiple injuries last year and was never close to full strength. Now healthy, Harrison looks far more like the competitor Clark expected to lead the staff in 2025.
“Ryley battled a couple of injuries last year. We didn’t talk about it much, but she fought through pain because she’s such a competitor,” Clark said. “Her velocity is back up, her movement is back, and with two years of experience her maturity level has gone up. She understands who she is as a pitcher and what she’s trying to do. I anticipate her being a huge piece for us this year.”
The Jaguars also added Cailyn Heyl, one of the top JUCO pitchers in the country last season. Heyl led Florida Northwest to a national championship and was named JUCO Pitcher of the Year, giving South Alabama an immediate arm with big game experience.
“When you’re recruiting, you’re trying to find proven winners, and that’s what Cailyn is,” Clark said. “She’s pitched on a big stage, she’s been the go to arm in championship moments, and she’s shown she can compete at a high level and succeed.”
Sophomore right hander Syd Scapin is another arm Clark highlighted as a potential breakout candidate after being thrown into the fire as a freshman.
“Syd has incredible fingers and wrist action, and she can spin the ball at an elite level,” Clark said. “Last year she had things to work through, but she has done that, and I feel like she’s moving in the right direction.”
North Alabama transfer Ella Ussery gives the staff something different with her ability to work the bottom of the zone. Definitely a pitcher you want in your circle to hopefully keep balls in the infield.
“Ella is a developmental kid who’s still taking steps forward,” Clark said. “What drew us to her is she was mid 60s and could go down. We like that she gives us a pitcher who can attack the bottom of the zone. She’s incredibly hard working and a student of the game.”
Beyond the roster itself, one element that continues to define South Alabama softball under Clark is the willingness to schedule aggressively. The Jaguars do not shy away from national competition, and that approach will not change heading into 2026. South Alabama once again has a challenging non conference slate that includes matchups with LSU, Mississippi State, and several other high profile programs.
“My philosophy has always been to schedule a hard schedule. We don’t shy away from competition,” Clark said. “A lot of that is chasing RPI. In 2024 our non conference strength of schedule was seventh out of 304 teams. And we don’t just play those teams. We compete with those teams and beat those teams.”
South Alabama has proven that repeatedly. In recent years the Jaguars have picked up wins over Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Notre Dame. Clark views those opportunities not as long shots, but as expectations for a program that believes it belongs on that level.
“We feel like we’re not just one of the best mid majors in the nation. We feel like we’re one of the best teams in the nation, and we’ve proven that. Last year was kind of an anomaly for us and kind of a down year, but feel like we’re, you know, getting back in a place where we can compete at the highest level, and we want our schedule to reflect that,” Clark stated.
With a healthier roster, more depth, and genuine competition at nearly every position, South Alabama enters 2026 looking far more complete than the group that fought its way through last year’s injuries and inexperience. The leadership and confidence is there, now we will wait to see the results beginning in February.
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