The National Freshman of the Year Award was given to two LSU softball players.

In a historic and unprecedented moment for LSU softball, not one, but two dynamic freshmen have been awarded the National Freshman of the Year Award. Sluggers Maci Bergeron and Alea Johnson have not only led the Tigers through a thrilling 2025 season but have also redefined what it means to make an impact right out of high school. Their recognition by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is more than a personal accolade—it is a resounding affirmation of LSU’s recruiting prowess and its bright future in collegiate softball.

The National Freshman of the Year Award, annually presented by Schutt Sports and the NFCA, recognizes the top first-year player (or players, in this unique case) in NCAA Division I softball. This year’s decision to honor two athletes from the same team is unprecedented and speaks volumes about the magnitude of their performances. The duo’s chemistry, grit, and poise under pressure have energized a program hungry for postseason glory and added a new chapter to the storied legacy of LSU softball.

Maci Bergeron arrived in Baton Rouge with high expectations. A former Gatorade Player of the Year in Louisiana and a top-five national recruit, Bergeron was seen as the future face of the program. In 2025, she wasted no time establishing herself as the present.

The catcher and power-hitter from Rayne, Louisiana, finished the regular season with a staggering .412 batting average, 16 home runs, and 59 RBIs. Her slugging percentage hovered over .760 for most of the season, placing her among the top offensive threats in the SEC. But what truly set Bergeron apart was her presence behind the plate. Catching a talented but young pitching staff, she served as the glue that held the Tigers’ defense together.

“She’s the total package,” LSU head coach Beth Torina said after the announcement. “You dream of players who can change the game with their bat and their glove, and Maci has done that repeatedly. But more importantly, her leadership, even as a freshman, has been off the charts.”

Bergeron’s ability to control the running game and frame pitches with poise beyond her years gave LSU a strategic edge in close matchups. Her performance in key SEC matchups—including a three-home run weekend against Alabama—put her on the national radar early. But it was her consistency and calm demeanor that solidified her candidacy for the award.

While Bergeron was making headlines for her offensive firepower, Alea Johnson quietly emerged as LSU’s secret weapon in the circle. A flame-throwing right-hander from Cypress, Texas, Johnson entered the season projected as a midweek starter or bullpen option. By midseason, she had become the team’s most reliable arm.

Johnson finished the regular season with a 1.68 ERA, 144 strikeouts, and a 19-3 record. Her breakout performance came in a 10-inning duel against Florida where she struck out 13 and allowed just one earned run, earning national Player of the Week honors. Her fastball routinely reached the upper 60s, and her drop-ball and curve kept hitters off-balance, producing a ground-ball-heavy approach that LSU’s defense thrived behind.

“She’s got the guts of a senior and the arm of a future Olympian,” said pitching coach Lindsay Leftwich. “Every time she takes the ball, you know you’re going to be in it. She never backs down, no matter the opponent.”

What makes Johnson’s rise even more impressive is the mental toughness she displayed after an early-season setback against Oklahoma, where she allowed five runs in just two innings. Instead of crumbling under pressure, she responded with a 23-inning scoreless streak that turned her season around.

While both players had strong cases individually, the decision to name co-winners from the same team is a testament to their combined impact. It’s the first time in the award’s 11-year history that two players—let alone two teammates—have shared the honor.

“This wasn’t a tie out of indecision,” said one NFCA voting committee member anonymously. “It was a recognition that these two players elevated each other and their team in ways we rarely see from freshmen. You couldn’t tell LSU’s story this year without both of them.”

The duo’s unique achievement not only brings national attention to LSU but also strengthens the case for the program as a premier destination for elite talent. In the ultra-competitive landscape of SEC softball, recruiting momentum can shift quickly. With Bergeron and Johnson as the faces of the program for the next few seasons, LSU appears well positioned to contend for both conference and national titles.

One of the most compelling storylines of the 2025 LSU softball season has been the friendship and chemistry between Bergeron and Johnson. The two freshmen became fast friends during fall workouts, bonding over their shared experiences as high-profile recruits navigating the pressures of the SEC.

“From day one, it felt like we were meant to play together,” Bergeron said. “There’s just a rhythm between us. When I catch her, I know what pitch she’s going to throw before she even tells me.”

Johnson echoed that sentiment: “Maci is like my second brain. She calms me down when I’m nervous and fires me up when I need that edge. Having her back there is the best thing that’s happened to me.”

Their synergy is evident on the field. Bergeron has caught every one of Johnson’s starts this season, and the duo’s battery work has earned them comparisons to some of LSU’s most legendary pairings.

Despite being underclassmen, both Bergeron and Johnson have emerged as vocal leaders in the locker room. With senior leaders sidelined by injury at various points during the season, the freshmen were often called upon to steady the ship. Their performance during a key late-season sweep of Arkansas, where LSU vaulted back into the top 10 nationally, was a turning point.

“We’re not just building for the future—we’re winning right now,” said Torina. “And it’s because of players like Maci and Alea who refuse to act like freshmen. They lead, they lift others, and they care deeply about this program.”

Upperclassmen have echoed those sentiments, noting how the freshmen’s commitment to extra reps, team meetings, and community service has elevated the entire program’s culture.

With LSU headed into the NCAA Tournament as a potential top-8 seed, the spotlight on Bergeron and Johnson is only growing. Analysts across the country have begun referring to LSU as a “dark horse” for the Women’s College World Series, citing the freshman duo as a major reason.

“This isn’t just a nice story,” ESPN’s Michele Smith said during a recent broadcast. “This is the kind of freshman impact that shifts the entire power structure in college softball. LSU has the best freshman class in the country, and it’s not close.”

The Tigers will need every ounce of production from their two stars as they navigate a loaded postseason bracket that includes perennial powers like UCLA, Oklahoma State, and Tennessee. But if their regular season performances are any indication, Bergeron and Johnson are more than ready for the pressure cooker of May and June softball.

For LSU fans, the emergence of Bergeron and Johnson offers not just hope for the future, but tangible results in the present. They are not simply promising freshmen—they are cornerstones of a new era.

LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward, who has overseen a resurgence across multiple sports, praised the players’ accomplishments in a statement: “This is a proud moment for LSU. Maci and Alea represent everything we want in our student-athletes—excellence, toughness, and humility. They’ve made history, and we believe this is just the beginning.”

As LSU prepares for the postseason, the rest of the country is officially on notice. The Tigers have arrived, and they’re led by two freshmen who are rewriting the rulebook on what’s possible in a debut season.