LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After solidifying herself as one of the top hitters in the Tiger lineup, Auburn softball’s AnnaLea Adams is receiving national attention as she was selected as one of 25 finalists for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I National Freshman of the Year award.
The Southeastern Conference led the way with eight total honorees. Adams is Auburn’s fifth all-time finalist for the award. She is the first since Bri Ellis (2022) ended her freshman campaign as a top 10 honoree.
After making the most of her pinch-hit opportunities early in the season, Adams forced her way into the starting lineup and has been an unstoppable ever since.
The Liberty, Indiana, native sits atop the clubhouse with a .413 batting average with 45 total hits to her credit. She has knocked seven doubles and nine home runs for a .725 slugging percentage while leading the team with 32 RBI. Adams has also added 17 runs scored. She leads the team with 10 multi-RBI games and is tied for the team lead in multi-hit games with 12.
Not playing with any freshman jitters, Adams has driven in one game-tying RBI and three game-winning RBI in the fifth inning or later this season, which includes a pair of walk-off winners for the Tigers.
She’s drawn seven walks and one hit by pitch to post a .449 on-base percentage. Adams is one of the tougher outs to get in the lineup as she’s only struck out six times in her 109 at bats. Spending half of the season as the designated player, Adams has taken over first base the last three weeks. She holds a .980 fielding percentage with just two errors in her 99 chances.
Despite not playing in nine of Auburn’s 48 games this season, Adams still ranks among the top two on the team in hits, RBI, doubles, home runs and total bases.
Adams is tied with Jessie Blaine (2022) for the fourth most home runs ever hit by a Tiger freshman. With her next home run, Adams would join Ellis and Kasey Cooper (2014) as just the third Auburn freshman to ever hit double-digit home runs.
She enters the weekend with the second highest batting average and third highest slugging percentage recorded by an Auburn freshman. Her .385 batting average in SEC play heading into the final series is the third best tallied by a Tiger freshman, sitting behind only Emily Carosone (2013) and Morgan Estell (2011).
In a conference full of deadly hitters, Adams ranks 15th in the league in batting average. In terms of just true freshman across the league, Adams is behind only Alabama’s Audry Vanadriff (.414) in average. Her .725 slugging clip is good for 20th among all SEC sluggers.
Her success this season goes beyond just Tiger freshman history as she currently holds the sixth highest batting average and 10th highest slugging percentage recorded in a single season on The Plains.
The top 10 finalist for the NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award will be announced on May 8. That list will be trimmed down to the top three finalists on May 22. The winner will be revealed on May 27 prior to the start of the Women’s College World Series.
The list of 25 was selected by the NFCA. The top 10, top three and overall winner are selected 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 freshman 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. In 2025, the NFCA will award 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.