VESTAL, N.Y. – In the midst of its best season since 2016, the Binghamton softball program has posted eight all-conference selections for the 2023 season. In addition, freshman pitcher Brianna Roberts has been named the America East Rookie of the Year. The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon by the conference office.

Graduate student second baseman Alli Richmond, redshirt sophomore utility player Lindsey Walter and redshirt sophomore third baseman Brianna Santos were each named first-team all-conference. All of them were also chosen to the America East All-Academic Team.

Roberts joined graduate student pitcher Sophia Pappas, junior first baseman Allison L'Amoreaux, sophomore outfielder Laney Harbaugh and freshman shortstop Akira Kopec as second-team all-conference selections. Both Roberts and Kopec also made the America East All-Rookie Team.

The eight overall all-conference selections (first and second team) ties the most ever by Binghamton. The Bearcats also posted the same total in 2016. In addition, the eight selections was the most by any team in the conference this season. 

"It's an exciting day for our program with our players being recognized by opposing coaches of the America East for all of their hard work and dedication throughout the season," head coach Jess Bump said. "We have a good mix of veterans and newcomers receiving awards, and which makes us excited for not only this weekend, but for the future of Binghamton Softball. We are proud of the eight people selected, but these accolades are also attributed to the depth of our team and how they compete in practice, in the weight room, and continue to make each-other better every day."

Roberts is the fourth Binghamton player to be named the Rookie of the Year and the first since Jessica Rutherford in 2015. She is currently 11-2 with a 2.53 ERA. Her victory total ranks fourth in the America East and her ERA is third. In addition, Roberts' 100 strikeouts is currently the fifth-best total in the America East. During the season, she was the America East Rookie of the Week a program-best four times (Feb. 14, March 4, April 11 & April 18).

Richmond is the 10^th player in Binghamton history to be named first-team all-conference twice during her career since the Bearcats joined the America East in 2002. She leads the Bearcats and is tied for eighth in the conference with five home runs. In addition, she ranks fifth with 28 RBI and No. 11 with a .473 slugging percentage. Richmond is also tied for fifth with nine doubles.

This also marks the second straight year that Richmond has been named to the America East All-Academic Team. She the seventh Binghamton player to have earned the distinction twice during her career. 

Binghamton tied Albany for the conference lead with its three All-Academic selections.

Walter earns her first career all-conference selection as well as her first appearance on the All-Academic Team. She currently leads the America East and ranks No. 24 in the nation with a .423 batting average. Walter is also first in the conference with a .484 on-base percentage, is tied for third with 31 runs, is third with 48 hits and fifth with 15 stolen bases. She was named the America East Player of the Week on Feb. 21 and March 7.

Santos, who transferred to Binghamton last August, currently ranks first in the America East with 39 RBI and 13 doubles. In addition, she is third in batting (.462) and slugging percentage (.567) and is fifth with 46 hits. Her OPS of .966 also ranks third.

The three first-team all-conference selections is the most by Binghamton since it also posted first-team three picks in 2018. The three All-Academic honorees, meanwhile, is the most since the Bearcats had four players named in 2013.

Harbaugh earns her first all-conference selection after being named to the All-Rookie Team last year. She currently ranks fifth in the America East in batting (.340) and on-base percentage (.418) as well as second with 20 stolen bases. Harbaugh is also tied for first in the conference with 51 hits, ranks fifth with 30 runs scored and is tied for fifth with 19 walks.

L'Amoreaux, who currently has a team-best, nine-game hitting streak, earns her first all-conference selection. She is batting .343 with six doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI. L'Amoreaux has also gone 4-3 as a pitcher and was named the America East Pitcher of the Week on March 7.

Pappas makes her third straight appearance on the second team and the first as a pitcher. She was chosen at the utility position the previous two seasons. Pappas is currently fourth in the America East with 103 strikeouts and fifth with a 2.84 ERA. At the plate, she is batting .333 with a home run and nine RBI. Pappas was named the America East Player of the Week on May 2.

Kopec, who has started all 45 games at the shortstop position, is currently third in the America East with a .433 on-base percentage. She is also second in the conference with 25 walks and has homered twice this season.

Roberts and Kopec are the first Binghamton rookies to be named all-conference since Marissa Braito was chosen to the second team in 2019.

Binghamton (29-16) is the No. 2 seed in the upcoming America East Tournament. The Bearcats have a first-round bye and will face either No. 3 Albany or No. 6 Maine on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in a second-round game.

The entire America East Tournament, which is being held Wednesday-Saturday, is being hosted by UMBC.