FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton Softball announced that former Titan standout Ashley Carter will serve as the keynote speaker at the program's 2026 Leadoff Social, returning to campus to share her journey from All-Conference outfielder to professional athlete, coach and community first responder.

Carter joined the Titans as a freshman in 2010 after receiving numerous All-Conference awards at Bloomington High School. 

"The Titans Softball program has made me who I am today," she said. "I had the opportunity to be coached by some of the best in the game, along with battling with some of the greatest teammates anyone could ask for."

Carter finished her four-year career at Fullerton with a .279 batting average, 43 RBI, and 24 stolen bases across 196 games. As a Titan (2010-13), the speedy, left-handed hitter led the team with 55 hits (2012), 26 runs scored (2013) and 13 stolen bases (2013). 

The Fontana native ranks tied for the program's fifth most career triples (9) with Carey Hess (1987-90) and Megan Delgadillo (2020-24). In four seasons, Carter became a two-time First Team All-Conference outfielder, a multi-year Academic All-Conference honor roll member, and received an Honorable Mention in 2011. 

Carter joined the NPF after signing with the Pennsylvania Rebellion in 2014, before transitioning to coaching at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, where she helped lead the team to its highest win total since 2008 (24-19), earning 13 players All-Conference awards and one Athlete of the Year award. 

The former Titan was hired as an assistant coach at Cal State Bakersfield in fall 2018, where she worked closely with hitters and outfielders. Her love for coaching continues as she volunteers with the Cal Lite 12U travel team.

Off the field, Carter became a firefighter for the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District in March 2021. She has since become a paramedic (2023) and then received a promotion to engineer paramedic (2024). In her fire department, Carter is head of their Explorer Program, and participates in the TAC Response program, honor guard, Spark of Love, PT for the department's academics, and social media. 

For her, remaining a dedicated Titans Softball alumna with the support of her parents, Kim and John Carter, and brothers Joshua Carter and Edd Randolph, comes naturally. 

"This program has given me so much and set me up for success," she said. "Now it is my turn to give back to the future Titans and the game of softball." 

The 2026 Leadoff Social will begin at 5:00 p.m. on January 31 with a social hour in the Titan Student Union Pavilions. Social hour will be followed by dinner and program festivities at 6:00 p.m. 

Guests will enjoy a lively and elegant atmosphere featuring a delicious dinner, the opportunity to connect with the team's student-athletes and coaching staff, and participate in both silent and live auctions directly supporting the program.

Attendees are encouraged to dress in cocktail attire and come ready to celebrate the excitement, tradition, and future of Cal State Fullerton Softball as the team prepares for the 2026 season. 

Register Here

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: 
Saturday, January 31, 2026
5:00 PM - Social Hour
6:00 PM - Dinner & Program

LOCATION: 
Titan Student Union Pavilions 
800 N. State College Blvd.
Fullerton, CA 92831

ATTIRE:
Cocktail Attire 

PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES: 

Navy Table Sponsor - $5,000
Includes seating for 10 people (optional to include up to two current Titan Student-Athletes of your choice), food and two (2) drink tickets for each individual, signage and recognition at the event, sponsor recognition at each of the home conference games, attend a practice to be mutually agreed upon with Titan Athletics, access for up to 20 individuals at the Cervantes Family Terrace, as well as First Pitch privilege for one designee during a home game to be mutually agreed upon with Titan Athletics.
Value of goods & services: $173.20

Orange Table Sponsor - $2,500
The package includes seating for eight (8) individuals (optional to include up to two current Titan Student-Athletes of your choice), catered food and two (2) drink tickets per person, event signage and recognition, and sponsor recognition at each home conference game.
Value of goods & services: $173.20

White Table Sponsor - $1,400
Includes seating for eight (8) people (optional to include up to two (2) current Titan Student-Athletes), food, and two (2) drink tickets for each individual, signage at the event, and sponsor recognition at the first home conference game.
Value of goods & services: $138.56

Individual Ticket - $125 
Includes food & two (2) drink tickets for one individual
Value of goods & services: $17.32

Softball Alumna Ticket - $75
Includes food & two (2) drink tickets for one Titan Softball Alumna
Value of goods & services: $17.32

Cannot attend but wish to donate - $125
Please accept my donation to the Softball program.
Value of goods & services: $0.00

For additional information or questions, please contact Athletic Events at 657-278-7034 or athleticevents@fullerton.edu.

Register Here 

SUPPORT THE TITANS!
Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitansTickets.com. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan Baseball ticketing office and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday.

FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), X (@FullertonTitans), Instagram (@FullertonTitans), YouTube (FullertonTitansAthletics) and TikTok (@FullertonTitans). In addition, the softball team has established its own Instagram (@Fullerton_sb) and X accounts (@Fullerton_sb).

WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+
Titans fans can now watch home contests exclusively on ESPN+. Cal State Fullerton has built a top-tier production studio to give the viewers an ESPN-quality production for Titans Athletics. Additionally, all schools in the Big West Conference are committed to producing ESPN-quality streams, which will allow fans to watch the Titans on ESPN+ for all road conference games.