WORCESTER — Following one of the most successful seasons in program history, the WPI softball team earned a program-record seven selections to the 2026 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-Region teams as announced by the organization on last week.
The Engineers matched Tufts, Trine and Virginia Wesleyan for the most all-region honorees in Division III while placing four student-athletes on the Region II First Team.
Junior pitcher Naomi Boldebuck (Billerica, MA), first-year pitcher Abby Merchant (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), senior first baseman Emma Nagy (Monroe, WA) and sophomore outfielder Lucy Latour (North Dighton, MA) all garnered first team accolades. Junior shortstop Sandy Fairbairn (Norton, MA) collected second team recognition while junior second baseman Riley O'Brien (Wynantskill, NY) and junior outfielder Virginia McKinney (Larchmont, NY) were tabbed third team selections.
WPI concluded the 2026 campaign with a 44-5 overall record, capturing both the NEWMAC regular season and tournament championships while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in program history.
Merchant enjoyed one of the top rookie pitching seasons in program history, finishing 25-1 with a 2.15 ERA across 146.1 innings in the circle. The NEWMAC Rookie of the Year struck out 88 batters, tossed 13 complete games and recorded four shutouts while helping anchor a pitching staff that ranked among the best in New England. Merchant also became a first team All-NEWMAC selection earlier this postseason.
Boldebuck joined Merchant on the first team after another stellar campaign in the circle. The junior posted a 16-4 record with a 3.07 ERA in a team-high 28 appearances and 25 starts. Boldebuck logged 18 complete games and four shutouts while striking out 69 batters in 139 innings of work.
Nagy continued her standout career with one of the most productive offensive seasons in WPI history. The senior slugger batted .382 with 58 hits, 19 home runs and 62 RBI while posting a .855 slugging percentage. Defensively, Nagy committed just two errors in 308 chances for a .994 fielding percentage at first base.
Latour emerged as one of the premier offensive players in Division III softball during her sophomore campaign. The outfielder hit an even .500 with 79 hits, 66 runs scored, 17 doubles, five triples, nine home runs and 41 RBI while adding 23 stolen bases. Latour also compiled a .576 on-base percentage and .842 slugging percentage while starting 48 games.
Fairbairn earned second team all-region recognition after leading one of the nation's top offenses from the shortstop position. The junior batted .398 with 64 hits, 19 doubles, seven triples, 12 home runs and 58 RBI while scoring 48 runs and stealing 14 bases. The Laurels of Academic Excellence recipient and NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player was instrumental in WPI's conference championship run, batting .421 (8-for-19) with three home runs, nine RBI, five runs scored and a triple across five tournament contests. Fairbairn delivered the go-ahead home run in Saturday's comeback victory over MIT before adding a two-run homer in Sunday's championship game. Defensively, she posted a .940 fielding percentage during the season.
O'Brien secured third team honors following a strong all-around season for the Engineers. The junior infielder hit .329 with 49 hits, eight doubles, eight home runs and 34 RBI while helping stabilize the middle infield defensively with 114 putouts and 89 assists.
McKinney rounded out WPI's all-region selections after a breakout junior season in the outfield. She batted .369 with 45 hits, 41 runs scored and 28 RBI while swiping 23 stolen bases in 25 attempts. McKinney also reached base at a .448 clip during the campaign.
All seven honorees will now advance to the national ballot for consideration for the 2026 NFCA Division III All-America teams, which will be announced May 27.
NFCA Release
