COLUMBIA, Mo. – Freshman Abby Carr (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette HS) has been named to the 2026 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 list, as announced on Thursday, April 23 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Carr is one of 25 players from across the country recognized for her outstanding debut season.
The NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award, established in 2014, honors exceptional athletic achievement among Division I freshman softball student-athletes. The Top 25 list will be narrowed to 10 players on May 7, followed by the announcement of three finalists on May 20. The winner will be revealed on May 26.
Carr has been a player to watch all season for the Tigers, making an immediate impact both at the plate and in the circle. Offensively, she leads the team in home runs (11), RBIs (40), and slugging percentage (.619), while posting a .306 batting average and an on-base percentage of .399. She is tied for second on the team in doubles with nine and tied for first in total at-bats with 83.
In addition to her offensive production, Carr has been a key contributor as a pitcher. She has appeared in 27 games in the circle with a 5-4 record and four saves, while logging 63.2 innings and producing a 2.42 ERA. During that time, she also recorded 60 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .224 batting average.
Carr's all-around performance has been a focal point of the Tigers' success, as they head into the final two SEC series of the regular season at 25-24 overall and 7-11 in conference play.
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
NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Winners
2025 – Taylor Shumaker, Florida; 2024 – Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State; 2023 – NiJaree Canady, Stanford; 2022 – Jordy Bahl, Oklahoma; 2021 – Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma; 2019 – Danielle Williams, Northwestern; 2018 – Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma; 2017 – Rachel Garcia, UCLA; 2016 – Amanda Lorenz, Florida; 2015 – Paige Parker, Oklahoma; 2014 – Annie Aldrete, Tennessee & Kasey Cooper, Auburn
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