ACU Softball Defeated Howard College in Fall Ball

The Abilene Christian softball team secured a win as head coach Larry Hays began his tenure leading the program.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Softball

Expressive sports illustration of a softball player swinging a bat, depicted with bold brushstrokes in purple and white team colors. — Abilene Christian University defeated Howard College in a fall exhibition softball game, marking the head coaching debut of Larry Hays. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Abilene Christian University softball team defeated Howard College in a fall ball exhibition match held in October 2026. The game marked a significant milestone as Larry Hays officially started his tenure as head coach.

Why it matters

The coaching staff is focused on fostering a team culture built on serving one another and honoring God. By prioritizing character over athletic performance, the program aims to establish a strong foundation for the upcoming season.

The team enters the season with only 5 returning players from the previous year. The current roster is composed primarily of new recruits and transfers, a group that includes 25 players the head coach had not met before his arrival.

The players

Larry Hays

He is the current head coach for the Abilene Christian University softball program.

Abilene Christian University

This is the higher education institution in Abilene where the softball program is based.

Howard College

This is the collegiate institution that faced the Abilene Christian University team in a recent fall ball game.

The details

The five returning veterans are playing a key role in helping newcomers transition to the new team dynamic. Coaching staff members emphasize that player identity should not be defined solely by the sport.

Larry Hays coached at Lubbock Christian from 1971 to 1986.
Hays led the team at Texas Tech from 1987 to 2008.
He returned to Lubbock Christian for a tenure lasting from 2010 to 2018.
Hays spent the years 2019 to 2026 coaching at Colorado Christian.
The ACU softball team played its fall ball game in October 2026.

Season Trajectory

The team’s cultural focus on service and faith directly follows the established values of the Abilene Christian University athletic department mission. This intentional team building marks a departure from traditional competitive-only models in collegiate sports.

With a roster consisting mostly of transfers and new recruits, the team chemistry remains a primary factor for the upcoming season. The integration of 25 new players suggests a significant overhaul of the previous year’s rotation strategy.

The takeaway

The team's success in this exhibition reflects a wider shift toward prioritizing character-building during the off-season. Players and staff continue to emphasize that serving one another remains the core priority beyond the diamond.