WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons, coming off their first KCAC regular season championship since 2016, will look to defend their title with a vastly different roster for the 2026 season.
Suzanne Unruh, the 2025 KCAC Coach of the Year, will have to replace seven of eight All-KCAC performers from last season, including KCAC Pitcher of the Year and NAIA All-American Riley Wertz.
The Falcons will also have to fill a power void for this season, with 44 of 48 homers from last year graduated.
The lone returning All-KCAC selection is Cadence Magana, who flashed a ton of potential as a freshman in 2025. A native of Corona, Calif., Magana ranked third on the team in hitting (.367) with three homers and 34 RBIs.
Another returner that will be expected to make a huge impact is Tamara Lozoya, a senior shortstop that started all 52 games and batted .338 with 25 runs driven in.
Sophomore first baseman Teagan Moreno is an intriguing returner for the Falcons and could be primed to take the next step after batting a robust .385 in 65 at-bats as a freshman in 2025. If Moreno is able to translate that production to a larger quantity of at-bats, that'll go a long way toward replicating the offensive production the Falcons lost from last year.
Unruh also returns a staple in center field in Izzy Jones, who batted a solid .293 at the plate last season while starting all 52 games.
"Cadence will be a strong returner in the lineup," said Unruh. "Counting on her to stay somewhere near the top of the lineup to get things going. Also expecting big things from Tam defensively at shortstop and I believe her hitting will be even better than last season Teagan and Izzy will also be key returners to contribute a lot of positive at-bats to our lineup."
Additional returners that saw significant playing time last season that could look for a larger role in 2026 include Raeleen Hernandez, Keara Cunningham, Lexy Melo, Angelina Mendoza and Marina Roman.
The top returner for the Falcons on the mound will be Jenna Ormiston, a junior right hander from Liberal, Kan. Ormiston was third on the Falcons last year in innings pitched (65.2) and struck out 38 batters with a 5.54 ERA while ranking second on the team in wins (eight).
"Jenna saw a lot of innings last year, with that experience and putting in the work this off season, we are expecting to see an experienced pitcher and consistent innings from her," said Unruh.
Unruh will also need to fill some holes with a slew of new additions for the upcoming season. If any of the newcomers are able to make an immediate impact in the lineup and/or the circle, that would raise the Falcons' ceiling for this year.
"We have a few junior transfers that should help us from the start," said Unruh. "Ezra Arredondo from Cowley College will bring a different look on the mound. She has a lot of spin pitches and excellent off speed. We're hoping she'll do well in the lineup as well, she's a smart and a very powerful bat."
"Chloe Enslingerio arrives from Barton County CC and will be behind the plate for us. She came here with a ton of success at Barton and does a wonderful job back there and her bat is going to be huge in the middle of the lineup. She will drive in a ton of runs for us. Another new addition is Madison Nightingale, a transfer from Butler CC. Maddie is one of the most athletic players on the team. She will bring a golden glove at 2B and her speed on the bases will be a game changer."
The Falcons will begin the 2026 season at the SCS Texas NAIA Tournament tomorrow (Feb. 5) in Mesquite, Texas. The non-conference slate also includes games at (RV) Benedictine College, MidAmerica Nazarene University along with action at the NAIA SB Invite in Shawnee, Okla. and the Top Gun NAIA Invite in Kansas City, Mo. Featured opponents in those tournaments include No. 2-ranked Oklahoma City University, No. 6-ranked Grandview University and No. 11-ranked Midland University. On Mar. 6-7, the Falcons will open at home and host their annual Friends Invitational, with a matchup vs. (RV) Baker University on the slate.
Friends then jumps right into the KCAC schedule at No. 25-ranked Evangel University, with the conference home opener set for Mar. 18 vs. Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
"We'll see where we are at as a team early!" said Unruh. "Starting down in Texas will be a great start to our season. We'll see tough competition and have really nice weather, so we're ready to kick off 2026. The NAIASB tournament in February in Shawnee is loaded with top 25 teams, so we're thrilled to be invited and can't wait to play and see some of the best teams in the NAIA that weekend."
