Jones Named CACC Player of the Year; Softball Earns Five All-Conference Selections

FULL CACC All-CONFERENCE STORY

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – As the University of Bridgeport softball team prepares for CACC Championship Weekend, which begins Thursday, five Purple Knights have been recognized with All-Conference honors for the 2026 season, as announced by the league on Tuesday.

Leading the way, senior Mya Jones was named the CACC Player of the Year. She was joined on the All-Conference First Team by Paityn Thibodeaux, Sam Ledger, and McKenzie Morgan, while junior Sydnee Perreault earned second-team honors for the second consecutive season.

Mya Jones – CACC Player of the Year, CACC All-Conference First Team
A four-time All-Conference selection and now a two-time First Team honoree, Jones adds Player of the Year laurels to an already decorated resume that began with CACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2023.

Jones has been the driving force behind the Purple Knights' offense this season, leading the team with a .431 batting average and 53 hits. She ranks second in the CACC in both batting average and on-base percentage (.496), while also sitting among the league's top five in hits and RBIs (33). Her production reached another level in conference play, where she paced the CACC with a .532 average, .851 slugging percentage and .566 on-base percentage against league opponents.

Consistency has been a hallmark of Jones' season, as she recorded at least one hit in 30 games, including 13 of her final 14 contests. She was twice named CACC Player of the Week (March 23 and April 20) and earned national recognition with a spot on the NFCA Player of the Year Watchlist on April 1.

Jones now closes out one of the most accomplished careers in program history, totaling 217 hits, 167 RBIs, and a .414 batting average across 172 games played.

Paityn Thibodeaux – CACC All-Conference First Team
Thibodeaux turned in a breakout campaign in 2026, earning her first career All-CACC honor after emerging as one of the conference's most dangerous hitters. A consistent force in the Purple Knights' lineup, Thibodeaux leads the team in on-base percentage (.500), doubles (13), walks (25), and slugging percentage (.712).

She also ranks second on the squad in batting average (.381), home runs (8), and RBIs (36), showcasing her all-around offensive impact. On the conference level, Thibodeaux's .500 on-base percentage tops the CACC, while she also ranks third in slugging, RBIs, and home runs.

Thibodeaux's consistency stood out throughout the season, recording at least one hit in 29 different games. She elevated her play down the stretch, batting .429 during the month of April while hitting .417 against conference opponents.

Her standout performances were recognized with CACC Player of the Week honors on April 27.

Sam Ledger – CACC All-Conference First Team
Ledger delivered a standout season in the circle for UB in 2026, earning her first career All-CACC selection after establishing herself as one of the conference's most reliable arms. The right-hander compiled a 13-4 record with a 3.17 ERA across 114.2 innings pitched, striking out 57 batters along the way.

Ledger's effectiveness was highlighted by her ability to limit opposing hitters, as she led the CACC with a .223 batting average against. She also ranked among the league leaders in multiple categories, sitting tied for fifth in ERA and tied for third in wins.

Her success carried over into conference play, where Ledger went 8-1 with a 2.88 ERA across 51.0 innings.

She turned in several dominant outings throughout the year, including a complete-game, three-hit shutout against West Virginia Wesleyan on March 6.

Ledger, who was named as the CACC's Pitcher of the Week on March 17, also notched complete-game victories while allowing just one run against Davenport (Feb. 27), AIC (March 14), and Post (April 10).

McKenzie Morgan – CACC All-Conference First Team
Morgan put together a strong all-around season for UB in 2026, earning All-CACC recognition behind her impact both at the plate and behind it. Offensively, she is batting .308 with 25 RBIs and 22 runs scored, while drawing 12 walks to post a .415 on-base percentage.

Morgan elevated her play in conference action, hitting .400 against CACC opponents with seven doubles, and showcased impressive consistency with at least one hit in 28 different games.

Defensively, Morgan has been one of the league's premier catchers, committing just two errors all year while throwing out a conference-best 11 runners on the basepaths.

She also delivered several standout offensive performances, including a 3-for-3, four-RBI effort against Salem (March 5), a 4-for-6 showing in a doubleheader at Post (April 10), and a 3-for-4 day with two doubles versus Chestnut Hill (April 18).

Morgan was recognized for her efforts with CACC Player of the Week honors on March 9.

Sydnee Perreault – CACC All-Conference Second Team
Perreault continued her standout career with UB in 2026, earning All-CACC Second Team honors for the second straight season after serving as one of the Purple Knights' most dynamic offensive threats.

A true catalyst in the lineup, Perreault led the team in RBIs (42), runs scored (50), home runs (10), and stolen bases (21), while ranking among the CACC's top performers in each category—first in runs, second in RBIs and home runs, and third in steals.

She also posted a .317 batting average with a .648 slugging percentage, which ranked fourth in the conference. Perreault recorded at least one hit in 27 games this season and added 13 multi-hit performances.

Among her top outings, Perreault blasted three home runs in an 11-3 victory over Jefferson on April 11, one of the most dominant single-game performances in the CACC this season. She also delivered in the postseason, going 5-for-8 with six RBIs during Bridgeport's first-round sweep of Goldey-Beacom.

Her efforts were recognized throughout the year, as she earned CACC Player of the Week honors a conference-best three times.

UP NEXT
UB will return to action on Thursday afternoon in the double-elimination portion of the CACC Tournament at Wilmington. The third-seeded Purple Knights will take on second-seeded Felician at 1:30 p.m.

For all information regarding Bridgeport Athletics, visit www.UBKnights.com and follow UB Athletics on Facebook (UBPurpleKnights), X (@UBPurpleKnights) and Instagram (@UBPurpleKnights).