Softball Earns Five CSC Academic All-District Selections for 2026

FULL CSC RELEASE

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Following outstanding performances both in the classroom and on the field this past spring, five members of the University of Bridgeport softball team earned 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors.

Bella Benjamin, Samantha Ledger, Nathalie Mongrain, McKenzie Morgan and Paityn Thibodeaux were all selected to the CSC Academic All-District Team after playing key roles in helping the Purple Knights capture the 2026 CACC Championship and secure a third consecutive berth into the NCAA East Regional.

The 2025-26 Academic All-District softball teams, selected by the College Sports Communicators, honor the nation's top student-athletes for their excellence both in competition and in the classroom. Criteria for the awards can be found HERE.

UB Softball CSC Academic All-District Honorees:

Bella Benjamin | Graduate Student | Infielder | GPA: 3.70 | Major: Human Nutrition
- Appeared in a team-high 52 games (49 starts)
- Tallied 28 hits, including eight doubles and six homers
- Scored 21 runs, registered 17 RBIs, walked 14 times
- Went 3-for-6 with four RBIs and three home runs in split at Caldwell (4/15)

Samantha Ledger | Junior | Pitcher | GPA: 4.0 | Major: Business Administration
- CACC All-Conference First Team Selection
- Won CACC's Top XVI Award (highest GPA at conference championship site)
- Named CACC Pitcher of the Week on March 17
- Posted a 13-4 record with a 3.25 ERA across 116.1 innings pitched
- Led the CACC in batting average against (.221)
- Went 8-1 in conference play with a 2.88 ERA across 51.0 innings

Nathalie Mongrain | Junior | C/INF | GPA: 3.82 | Major: Marketing
- Appeared in 38 games, making 35 starts
- Played both catcher and second base
- Tallied 21 hits, 17 runs scored and 16 walks (3^rd on UB)
- Started final 11 games, including all seven postseason contests
- Recorded at least one hit in all five CACC Tournament wins

*McKenzie Morgan | Junior | Catcher | GPA: 3.89 | Major: Criminal Justice & Human Security
- CACC All-Conference First Team Selection
- CACC All-Tournament Team Honoree
- Started a team-high 50 games
- Tallied a .402 on-base percentage (3^rd on UB)
- Recorded 40 total hits, including 11 doubles and a homer
- Registered 28 RBIs and 23 runs scored
- Named CACC Player of the Week on March 9

*Paityn Thibodeaux | Sophomore | Infielder | GPA: 3.60 | Major: Health Sciences
- CACC All-Conference First Team Selection
- NFCA and D2CCA All-Region Second Team Honoree
- Led the CACC in walks (27)
- Ranked 3^rd in the CACC in OBP (.470), HRs (8) and doubles (14)
- Batted .351 with 36 RBIs (both 2^nd on UB)
- Earned CACC Player of the Week honors on April 27
- Batted .429 in the month of April

*McKenzie and Paityn are also denoted as CSC Academic All-America® finalists. They advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members.

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