WORCESTER -- Lindsay Ambrosino (Chelmsford, MA), Alicia Salvalzo (Hudson, NH), Sophia Togneri (Hudson, MA) and Sydney Russell (Arlington, VA) of the WPI softball were selected to the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, the organization announced last week. Ambrosino and Russell are repeat honorees while Salvalzo and Togneri were recognized for the first time.
The CSC Academic All-America program replaces the former CoSIDA Academic All-America program after CoSIDA recently rebranded its organization as "College Sports Communicators."
Ambrosino, a graduate student infielder, is now a four-time Academic All-District selection with the 2023 praise from CSC. The 2022 NCAA Division III Softball Elite 90 Award recipient started as a shortstop for the Engineers for five years. The veteran shortstop bookended her standout career being tabbed the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year in 2019 and All-NEWMAC in 2023 after compiling 41 runs, five triples, four home runs, 25 RBI and 18 stolen bases with a NEWMAC Softball Athlete of the Week nod in mid-April.
The four-time Academic All-District awardee concludes her graduate career with perfect 4.0 grade-point average in electrical and computer engineering following a 4.0 GPA in her undergraduate courses.
Salvalzo posted a strong senior campaign for the Crimson and Gray with a .305 batting average racking up 32 hits, 24 runs, nine doubles, one triple and two home runs with 18 RBI and nine stolen bags in 2023. The starting second baseman recorded a double-, home run-, three RBI-effort in game two versus Eastern Connecticut and went three-for-three with a homer, triple, and single against Babson, just a double shy of going the cycle.
The three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honoree earned her first All-District recognition from CSC this spring after recording a 3.78 grade-point average in electrical and computer engineering.
Togneri, a senior pitcher, posted complete game shutouts versus Eastern Connecticut and Clark. The three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference recipient logged 125 1/3 innings pitched with 66 strikeouts and a 2.90 ERA and claimed the NEWMAC Softball Pitcher of the Week accolade in late April.
In the classroom, Togneri sports a 3.71 GPA in biochemistry and international & global studies.
Russell, a junior outfielder, led the Engineers in plate appearances (134) while slashing a .328 batting average, .397 on-base percentage and .343 slugging percentage, totaling 44 hits, 35 runs, 12 RBI and going 23-of-28 in stolen bases marking third in the NEWMAC.
The two-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honoree and starting centerfielder boasts a 3.76 GPA in biomedical engineering.
To be eligible for all-academic honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or a key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot.
The Crimson and Gray, under the tutelage of second-year head coach Heather Ross, were 20-20 this season with a 11-7 slate in conference play. WPI earned the fourth seed before being eliminated on day two of the NEWMAC Softball Tournament.