By: UMass Boston Athletics

LOUISVILLE, KY – After an unforgettable season and a decorated career in Beacon Blue, graduate student Bri Melchionda (Marshfield, Mass.) has once again etched her name into the UMass Boston history books, becoming the first player in program history to earn National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-American honors, having been named Third Team All-America at the utility-pitcher position. 

Appearing in 40 games during the 2025 season, Melchionda was a two-way force for a UMass Boston squad that posted a 33-13-1 record on its way to winning the Little East Conference (LEC) tournament title. She was recognized on the NFCA's preseason "Players and Pitchers to Watch" list heading into the 2025 campaign, which saw her named the 2025 LEC Player of the Year. 

Already the program's all-time strikeout leader entering the year, Melchionda added 126 more punchouts across 19 appearances (15 starts) in the circle this season. She posted a team-best 1.74 ERA, held opposing hitters to a .206 average, and tallied 11 complete games with four shutouts. On March 16 against SUNY Oswego, she set a new program single-game record with 15 strikeouts. Melchionda also led the Beacons offensively with a .422 batting average, tallying 49 hits in 116 at-bats. Her season totals included 14 doubles, a triple, a home run, 28 RBIs and just eight strikeouts at the dish. 

A cornerstone of the program's rise over the past four years, Melchionda leaves behind a lasting legacy. In 145 career games, she hit .368 with a .556 slugging percentage and a .417 on-base percentage—numbers that reflect her consistent impact as one of the Little East Conference's most dynamic players.