LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sam Houston utility player Sophia Lundstrom and Jax State pitcher Makenna Moore were named to the 2026 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 list on Thursday afternoon.
 
Lundstrom is batting .406 (67-165) on the year, which leads the Bearkats and ranks fifth in CUSA. She ranks 20^th nationally in both hits (67) and doubles (16), and her 44 runs are third-most in CUSA. Lundstrom is currently riding a seven-game hit streak in which she’s gone 11-25 (.440) with nine RBI, five doubles and seven runs. The Richmond, Texas, native boasts 18 multi-hit games and 11 multi-RBI games.
 
Moore is 14-1 with a 2.56 ERA in 117.2 innings as the Gamecocks’ ace this spring. She ranks third in CUSA in wins, fourth in ERA and strikeouts (101) and fifth in opponent batting average (.202). During 12 starts in league play, Moore is a flawless 10-0 with a 1.69 ERA. The Grain Valley, Mo., native ranks second in wins, third in ERA and fourth in opponent batting average (.194). Her finest outing came in a February 21 gem against DePaul in which she fanned 15 batters while allowing just two hits in a shutout effort.
 
Both programs are represented for the first time on the list by the freshman standouts, and Conference USA joined the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Coastal Athletic Association as leagues with multiple honorees.
 
On May 7, the list will be trimmed to the top 10 and the three finalists will be released on May 20. 
 
The list of 25 was selected by the NFCA. The top 10, top three and winner are voted on by the NFCA Division I All-America Committee. To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach and in their first year of NCAA Division I collegiate competition as a true or redshirt freshman. Nominated student-athletes remain in consideration for Top-10 selection.
 
The NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. The NFCA awards Freshman of the Year plaudits to a student-athlete from NCAA DI, NCAA DII, NCAA DIII and NAIA. For more information about all NFCA Awards, visit nfca.org.
 
2026 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25
Bri Alejandre, University of California, Los Angeles
Brinli Bain, University of Arkansas
Ella Boyer, University of Kansas
Abby Carr, University of Missouri
Bree Carrico, Virginia Tech
Bronwyn Conroy, College of Charleston
Kenzie Farrier-Pilon, California Baptist University
Tarisa Frans, Cornell University
Aleena Garcia, University of California, Los Angeles
Madi George, University of Mississippi
Mia Gomez, University of Utah
Camille Hamilton, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Alexis Jensen, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Sophia Lundstrom, Sam Houston State University
Marina Mason, Northwestern University
Kai Minor, University of Oklahoma
Anna Moore, Purdue University
Makenna Moore, Jacksonville State University
Vic Moten, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Allison Oneacre, Pennsylvania State University
Kaitlyn Pallozzi, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Dani Rauscher, University of California, Santa Barbara
Kendall Wells, University of Oklahoma
Katelyn Wetteland, University of Nevada
Kinzey Woody, Wichita State University