North Attleboro, Mass. – Adelphi University softball enjoyed a breakout season in 2026, finishing with the second-best record in the conference, after being picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll. Following this year's campaign, head coach Katie Apostolopoulos was named Northeast 10 Coach of the Year, while six Panthers earned All-Conference selections, announced Wednesday afternoon.
For Apostolopoulos, in just her second season at the helm, her squad tallied 33 regular-season wins, earning the No. 2 seed in this year's Northeast 10 Championship. Most recently, her team won its first-round matchup in dominant fashion, advancing to championship weekend for a second consecutive season. After going just 10-10 in conference play last season and finishing below .500 overall (24-27), the Brown and Gold posted a 27-9 conference record this spring, completing a remarkable turnaround under Apostolopoulos. It also marks the first time an Adelphi coach has earned the award since 2024, when Carla Campagna took home the honor.
Jenna Plue and Maddy Moore were both selected to the conference's First Team.
Plue took a major step forward for the Panthers in her second season wearing the Brown and Gold. The senior is currently tied for first in the conference with 18 wins and leads the NE10 in innings pitched (171.2), complete games (21), and shutouts (6). She also ranks second in strikeouts (156) and fourth in opponent batting average (.238). On the season, she owns a 2.81 ERA and has settled into a workhorse role as Adelphi's go-to game one starter.
Moore, who was also named to the All-Defensive Team, caught fire at the plate during the middle of the season and looks to continue her phenomenal campaign. She is currently hitting .325 with a .525 slugging percentage, while her .942 OPS and .412 on-base percentage both lead the team. She has totaled 39 hits, nine doubles, five home runs, and a team-high 28 RBIs this season. Behind the plate, she owns a .990 fielding percentage, accumulating 266 putouts and 21 assists while throwing out 15 baserunners attempting to steal.
Tori Parente, Emma Priest, and Lily Kenney each earned Third Team honors.
Parente, selected as a utility player, impacted the Panthers in a variety of ways. While currently leading the team with a .351 batting average, she also made 16 appearances in the circle, compiling a 7-2 record with a 3.53 ERA, including five complete games and one shutout. At the plate, she has recorded 27 hits, two doubles, one triple, and 12 RBIs, while delivering two walk-off hits this season. Defensively, she has made 28 starts at second base, totaling 34 putouts and 49 assists while holding a .965 fielding percentage.
Priest, who also earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team, settled into the everyday center field role for the Panthers. She is currently hitting .309 and has totaled 56 hits, 35 runs scored, 10 doubles, and a team-high five triples, while adding two home runs and 22 RBIs. In the outfield, she has maintained a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 104 putouts and five assists.
Kenney made 22 appearances for Adelphi this season, including 16 starts, and totaled nine wins. She has pitched 113 innings with a 3.35 ERA while holding opponents to a .281 batting average. Kenney recorded 14 complete games, including one shutout, and struck out 88 batters on the season.
Faith Wagner joined Priest on the All-Rookie Team, becoming a mainstay in the middle of the order for the Panthers. The freshman made 47 starts and currently holds a .277 batting average with 36 hits, five doubles, 14 RBIs, and 21 runs scored.
Apostolopoulos and the Panthers will look to keep things rolling when they face off against Southern New Hampshire University on Thursday, May 7, at 3:30 p.m. on the campus of Franklin Pierce University. The double-elimination tournament is scheduled to run through Saturday, May 9, with top-seeded Franklin Pierce serving as host.
