Gardner-Webb Softball Prepares for 32 Home Games and 18-Game Big South Conference Slate

Season Opens with Runnin’ Bulldog Classic on Feb. 7 in Brinkley Stadium; Lead-off Dinner is Jan. 25

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The Gardner-Webb University softball team has announced its upcoming 2025 schedule, featuring several tournament weekends, 32 home games at Brinkley Stadium and an 18-game Big South Conference slate.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs will open the spring with a run of 14 consecutive home games, largely part of tournament weekends. Gardner-Webb takes the field for the first time in 2025 as part of the Runnin’ Bulldog Classic, where GWU will play West Georgia, Howard and Drexel on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7, 8 and 9 in Brinkley Stadium. That event opens on Friday with a doubleheader against West Georgia and Howard, scheduled for 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

“We are really excited about opening weekend,” shared Head Coach Bailey Wigness. “We are solid as a team, and we are relying on each other.”

Before the opening game, however fans can show their support for the team at the third annual Lead-off Dinner on Jan. 25 at The Venue at Knot Hill, 2411 Gaffney Road, Mooresboro, N.C. Meet the team and participate in a special live auction. Individual tickets are $50 a plate or if you cannot attend, you may sponsor a plate.

2025 Softball Schedule

Runnin’ Bulldog Classic, Brinkley Softball Stadium

• Feb. 7 – 3 p.m., West Georgia 
• Feb. 7 – 5:30 p.m., Howard University
• Feb. 8 – 3 p.m. West Georgia
• Feb. 8 – 5:30 p.m., Drexel
• Feb. 9 – 11 a.m., Drexel

Brinkley Softball Stadium

• Feb. 12 – 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., Iona

Red and Black Classic, Brinkley Softball Stadium

• Feb. 14 – 3 p.m., Iona
• Feb. 14 – 5:30 p.m., Sacred Heart
• Feb. 15 – 3 p.m., Robert Morris
• Feb. 15 – 5:30 p.m., Sacred Heart
• Feb. 16 – 12:30 p.m., Robert Morris

Brinkley Softball Stadium

• Feb. 19 – 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., Western Carolina

Hilltopper Classic at Western Kentucky in Bowling Green

• Feb. 21 – 11 a.m., Bradley
• Feb. 21 – 1:30 p.m., Toledo
• Feb. 22 – 11 a.m., Toledo
• Feb. 22 – 1:30 p.m., Western Kentucky
• Feb. 23 – 11 a.m., Bradley

Spring in the Springs, Brinkley Stadium

• Feb. 28 – 3 p.m., IU Indy
• Feb. 28 – 5:30 p.m., Stony Brook
• March 1 – 3 p.m., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• March 1 – 5:30 p.m., IU Indy
• March 2 – 12:30 p.m., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Brinkley Softball Stadium

• March 4 – 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., N.C. Central

Furman Round Robin, Greenville, S.C.

• March 7 – 2:30 p.m., Youngstown State
• March 7 – 5 p.m., Furman
• March 8 – 9 a.m., Youngstown State
• March 8 – 2 p.m., Furman

Wofford College, Spartanburg, S.C.

• March 11 – 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Brinkley Softball Stadium

• March 14 – 4 p.m., Radford, (Big South)
• March 15 – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Radford, (Big South)

Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C.

• March 18 – 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Brinkley Softball Stadium

• March 21 – 4 p.m., Winthrop University (Big South)
• March 22 – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Winthrop University (Big South)

Longwood, Farmville, Va.

• March 29 – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Big South)
• March 30 – 1 p.m. (Big South)

Clemson University, South Carolina

• April 1 – TBD

Brinkley Softball Stadium

• April 8 – 5 p.m., East Tennessee State University
• April 9 – 5 p.m., Appalachian State University

Presbyterian College, Clinton, S.C.

• April 12 – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Big South)
• April 13 – 1 p.m. (Big South)

Brinkley Softball Stadium

• April 18 – 4 p.m. USC Upstate (Big South)
• April 19 – 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., USC Upstate (Big South)

Charleston Southern University, South Carolina

• April 26 – 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. (Big South)
• April 27 – 1 p.m. (Big South)

Queens University

• April 30 – 5 p.m.

The Big South Tournament

• May 7-10 – Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C.

Follow the Runnin’ Bulldogs at gwusports.com or on X and Instagram at GWUsoftball.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.