LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Slippery Rock University softball center fielder Maddie Cavenaugh has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Freshman of the Year award, the organization announced Wednesday.
 
Cavenaugh is one of eight selections, one from each of the NCAA's eight regions, by the NFCA's Division II All-America Committee to be finalists for the premier award presented to the top rookie student-athlete in the country. The winner of the 2026 NFCA Division II Freshman of the Year award will be announced May 26.
 
Joining Cavenaugh as finalists for the award are Kierra Lubovich (Augustana / Central), Camryn Van Valkenburgh (Franklin Pierce / East), Caitlin Bunte (Indianapolis / Midwest), Abigail Hynes (Saint Leo / South), Brooke Janning (West Texas A&M / South Central), Malyiah Smith (Carson-Newman / Southeast) and Deleah Cardenas (California State San Marcos / West).
 
All eight finalists previously earned NFCA all-region recognition. Cavenaugh, Lubovich, Van Valkenburgh, Bunte, Hynes, Janning and Cardenas earned first team honors, while Smith collected second team accolades.
 
Wednesday's announcement is just the latest in an ever-growing list of postseason recognition for Cavenaugh. The Bridgeville, Pennsylvania native has already earned Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Athlete of the Year and PSAC West Freshman of the Year recognition in addition to being a first team all-region choice by both the D2CCA and the NFCA as well as garnering first team All-PSAC West honors.  
 
Cavenaugh put together one of the best single-season performances in Slippery Rock program history. A starter in all 47 games of her rookie season, Cavenaugh slashed .440/.532/.800 with 53 runs scored, 12 home runs and 21 stolen bases in addition to collecting 48 RBIs despite serving as The Rock's leadoff hitter for the near entirety of the season.
 
A product of South Fayette High School, Cavenaugh closed the year on a 26-game reached base streak to go with 16 multi-hit games and 14 multi-RBI contests.
 
Among the six finalists who are strictly position players – Bunte and Cardenas are primarily pitchers – Cavenaugh ranks first in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS (1.332). Despite playing in the fewest number of games among the finalists, Cavenaugh still ranks first in the group in total runs scored and walks (31), while being tied for the lead in home runs.
 
In terms of per game statistics, Cavenaugh paces the group in runs per game (1.12) in addition to ranking second in both hits per game (1.40) and RBI per game (1.02).
 
Created in 2015, the award honors the outstanding athletic achievement among freshmen softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. To be eligible, student-athletes must come from a NFCA member institution.
 
Slippery Rock completed its 2026 season with a 27-20 overall record. SRU qualified for the PSAC Tournament after finishing second in the PSAC West standings.
 
 2026 NFCA DII National Freshman of the Year Finalists
Atlantic – Maddie Cavenaugh, Slippery Rock University
Central – Kierra Lubovich, Augustana University
East – Camryn Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Pierce University
Midwest – Caitlin Bunte, University of Indianapolis
South – Abigail Hynes, Saint Leo University
South Central – Brooke Janning, West Texas A&M University
Southeast – Malyiah Smith, Carson-Newman University
West – Deleah Cardenas, California State University San Marcos




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