CHARLOTTE – Notre Dame softball freshman Ava Zachary and Lily Hagan both earned multiple all-conference accolades, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Wednesday. Zachary was named to the All-ACC Second Team while Hagan earned a spot on the All-ACC Third Team. Both players also found their way onto the ACC All-Freshman team.
It’s the first time since 2022 Notre Dame has had multiple freshmen named to the All-ACC Freshman team and the fourth time it’s happened in the program’s history in the conference. Excluding the 2020 season, Notre Dame has had a player named to the ACC Freshman Team every year since 2018.
Zachary, a local product from Mishawaka, Indiana, was a force in the Irish lineup during her first collegiate season. Splitting time between second base and third base, Zachary leads the team in a majority of offensive categories (batting average – .407, doubles – 13, RBI – 31, extra base hits – 18, total bases – 83). She also had five home runs and stole 10 bases. Zachary elevated her game against conference opponents. Her .440 batting average against ACC teams was the best by any freshman in the conference among players with at least 33 at bats. Zachary leads the team with 17 multi-hit games this season while having eight multiple RBI games.
Hagan was dominant down the stretch of the season, including in ACC games. The Colts Neck, New Jersey native leads the team with nine home runs this season, five coming against ACC teams, to go along with a .405 batting average against those conference foes. Slugging a .833 in conference play, Hagan had eight extra base hits in just 42 at bats against the ACC. Overall on the year, Hagan hit .400, scoring 12 runs and driving in 24 RBI. She posted two multi-home run games, one on the road at Florida State and another against Louisville, two of the top-five teams in the conference.
Zachary and Hagan will look to continue their success when the Irish take on Georgia Tech in the First Round of the 2026 ACC Softball Championships from Charlottesville, Virginia. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. Wednesday morning on ACC Network.