NAIA softball championship

Last updated
NAIA Softball World Series
NAIA Softball World Series logo.png
Sport Softball
Founded1981
Organising bodyNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)
Our Lady of the Lake (1st)
Most titles Oklahoma City (11)
TV partner(s) ESPN3 (Semifinals and national championship only)
Streaming partner(s)NAIA Network (First round, quarterfinals)
Official website NAIA.com

The NAIA softball championship, referred to as the NAIA Softball World Series, is the annual tournament to determine the national champions of NAIA collegiate softball in the United States and formerly in Canada. It has been held annually since 1981. [1] The South Commons Complex Sports Complex in Columbus, Georgia is the most recent host, having hosted the tournament since 2021. [2]

Contents

The reigning national champions are the Our Lady of the Lake Saints, who won their first title in 2024.

Oklahoma City is the winningest program, with eleven NAIA championship titles.

Results

NAIA Softball World Series
YearSiteChampionship game
ChampionScoreRunner-up
1981
Details
Conroe, Texas Sam Houston State 1–0 Emporia State
1982
Details
Kearney, Nebraska Missouri Western 5–0 St. Francis (IL)
1983
Details
Emporia State 9–2 Kearney State
1984
Details
Indianapolis, Indiana Emporia State (2)1–0 Quincy
1985
Details
Quincy 4–2 Washburn
1986
Details
San Antonio, Texas St. Mary's (TX) 2–1 (9 innings) Oklahoma City
1987
Details
Kearney, Nebraska Kearney State 1–0 Francis Marion
1988
Details
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Pacific Lutheran 2–0 (10 innings) Minnesota Duluth
1989
Details
Midland, Michigan Saginaw Valley State 3–0 Kearney State
1990
Details
Pensacola, Florida Kearney State (2)6–3 (8 innings) Pacific Lutheran
1991
Details
Columbia, Missouri Hawaii Loa 5–1 Puget Sound
1992
Details
Pensacola, Florida Pacific Lutheran (2)3–2 Kennesaw State
1993
Details
Columbia, Missouri West Florida 4–2 Oklahoma City
1994
Details
Oklahoma City 3–1 Athens State
1995
Details
Oklahoma City (2)3–1 Puget Sound
1996
Details
Decatur, Alabama

Wilson MorganSoftball Complex

Oklahoma City (3)9–1 Shawnee State
1997
Details
Oklahoma City (4)12–0 Athens State
1998
Details
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Broken Arrow Softball Complex

Western Washington 5–1 Simon Fraser
1999
Details
Jupiter, Florida

Jupiter Softball Park

Simon Fraser 7–3 Oklahoma City
2000
Details
Decatur, Alabama

Wilson MorganSoftball Complex

Oklahoma City (5)5–1 Azusa Pacific
2001
Details
Oklahoma City (6)5–3 Simon Fraser
2002
Details
Oklahoma City (7)2–1 (8 innings) Point Loma Nazarene
2003
Details
Simon Fraser (2)3–1 Mobile
2004
Details
Thomas 5–4 Simon Fraser
2005
Details
Simon Fraser (3)7–0 California Baptist
2006
Details
Mobile 4–1 California Baptist
2007
Details
Oklahoma City (8)7–2 Point Loma Nazarene
2008
Details
Lubbock Christian 2–1 Mobile
2009
Details
California Baptist 3–2 St. Gregory's
2010
Details
Simon Fraser (4)4–3 Oklahoma City
2011
Details
Gulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf Shores Sportsplex

Oregon Tech 1–0 California Baptist
2012
Details
Shorter 1–0 Oklahoma City
2013
Details
Columbus, Georgia

South CommonsSoftball Complex

Concordia Irvine 8–3 Spring Hill
2014
Details
Auburn Montgomery 10–6* William Carey
2015
Details
Sioux City, Iowa

Morningside College

Auburn Montgomery (2)10–0 (6 innings) Lindsey Wilson
2016
Details
Oklahoma City (9)5–0 Saint Xavier
2017
Details
Clermont, Florida

Legends Way Ball Fields

Oklahoma City (10)4–1 Corban
2018
Details
USAO 4–1 Columbia (MO)
2019
Details
Springfield, Missouri [3] Killian Sports Complex Southern Oregon 8–3 Oklahoma City
2020
Details
No championship due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021
Details
Columbus, Georgia

South CommonsSoftball Complex

Southern Oregon (2)3–2 Oregon Tech
2022
Details
Oklahoma City (11)3–0 Mobile
2023
Details
Southern Oregon (3)11-0 (5 innings) [4] Oregon Tech
2024

Details

Our Lady of the Lake 2-0 [5] Jessup

Champions

Active programs

TeamTitlesYears
Oklahoma City 111994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2016, 2017, 2022
Southern Oregon 32019, 2021, 2023
Our Lady of the Lake 12024
USAO 12018
Oregon Tech 12011
Mobile 12006
Thomas (GA) 12004

Former programs

TeamTitlesYears
Simon Fraser 41999, 2003, 2005, 2010
Auburn Montgomery 22014, 2015
Pacific Lutheran 21988, 1992
Nebraska–Kearney 21987, 1990
Emporia State 21983, 1984
Concordia Irvine 12013
Shorter 12012
California Baptist 12009
Lubbock Christian 12008
Western Washington 11998
West Florida 11993
Hawaii Loa 11991
Saginaw Valley 11989
St. Mary's (TX) 11986
Quincy 11985
Missouri Western 11982
Sam Houston State 11981

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament</span> Annual tournament

The NCAA Division III women's basketball championship is the annual tournament to determine the national champions of women's NCAA Division III collegiate basketball in the United States. It was held annually from 1982, when the NCAA began to sponsor women's sports at all three levels, through 2019. No championship was held in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19 issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament</span> Edition of USA college basketball tournament

The 2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 65 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament that determined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball national champion for the 2006-07 season. The 69th annual edition of the tournament began on March 13, 2007, with the opening round game and concluded with the championship game on April 2, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Lady of the Lake University</span> Private university in San Antonio, Texas

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), known locally as the Lake, is a private Catholic university in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of Divine Providence, a religious institute originating in Lorraine, France, during the 18th century. The Texas chapter of the institute still sponsors the university. Our Lady of the Lake University was the first San Antonio institution of higher education to receive regional accreditation and its Worden School of Social Service is the oldest Social Work school in Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in New Orleans</span>

New Orleans is home to a wide variety of sporting events. Most notable are the home games of the New Orleans Saints (NFL) and the New Orleans Pelicans (NBA), the annual Sugar Bowl, the annual Zurich Classic and horse racing at the Fair Grounds Race Course. New Orleans has also occasionally hosted the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff semifinal game and the NCAA college basketball Final Four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindenwood Lions</span> Athletic teams of Lindenwood University

The Lindenwood Lions and Lady Lions are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Lindenwood University, located in St. Charles, Missouri, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division I ranks, primarily competing in the Ohio Valley Conference for most of its sports since the 2022–23 academic year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament</span> Edition of USA college basketball tournament

The 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 68 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament that determined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball national champion for the 2011-12 season. The 74th edition of the tournament began on March 13, 2012, and concluded with the championship game on April 2, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Georgia Wolves</span> Athletic teams representing the University of West Georgia

The West Georgia Wolves are the athletic teams that represent the University of West Georgia, located in Carrollton, Georgia, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Wolves compete as members of the Gulf South Conference for all 13 varsity sports. West Georgia has been a member of the GSC since 1983. On September 8, 2023, West Georgia announced they would be joining NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN), effective July 1, 2024. The football team will join the United Athletic Conference, a football-only partnership between the ASUN and the Western Athletic Conference, at the same time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus State Cougars</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Columbus State University

The Columbus State Cougars are the athletic teams that represent Columbus State University, located in Columbus, Georgia, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Peach Belt Conference since the 1990–91 academic year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division II softball tournament</span>

The NCAA Division II Softball Championship is the annual tournament hosted by the NCAA to determine the national champion of women's college softball among Division II members in the United States and Canada. The final rounds of the tournament are also referred to as the NCAA Division II Women's College World Series. The tournament has been held annually since 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division III softball tournament</span>

The NCAA Division III softball tournament is the annual tournament hosted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to determine the team champion of women's college softball among its Division III programs in the United States. The final portion of the tournament is also called the Division III Women's College World Series.

The 2013 NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball national championship was held in March at Keeter Gymnasium in Point Lookout, Missouri. The 22nd annual NAIA basketball tournament featured thirty-two teams playing in a single-elimination format. The championship game was won by Cardinal Stritch University over William Penn University by a score of 73 to 59.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament</span> American college basketball championship

The 2018 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 16, 2018, and concluded with the national championship game on Sunday, April 1. The Final Four was played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. This is the third time that the women's Final Four was played in Ohio after previously being held in Cincinnati in 1997 and Cleveland in 2007 and the first time that the women's Final Four was played in Columbus. For only the fourth time in the tournament’s 37-year history, all four of the number one seeds made it to the Final Four.

The Oklahoma Sooners softball team represents the University of Oklahoma in NCAA Division I college softball. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference, and plays its home games at Love's Field in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners are currently led by head coach Patty Gasso.

The Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls or historically, Oregon Tech, is a campus in Klamath Falls, Oregon of the Oregon Institute of Technology, a public college in Oregon. At this campus, the institution provides 47 degree programs in engineering, health technologies, management, communication, psychology, and applied sciences.

The 1996 NCAA Division I softball tournament was the fifteenth annual tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA women's collegiate softball. Held during May 1996, thirty-two Division I college softball teams contested the championship. The tournament featured eight regionals of four teams, each in a double elimination format. The 1996 Women's College World Series was held in Columbus, Georgia from May 23 through May 27 and marked the conclusion of the 1996 NCAA Division I softball season. This marked the last time that the Women's College World Series was held in a city other than Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and previewed Golden Park's hosting of softball events for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Arizona won their fourth NCAA championship by defeating Washington 6–4 in the final game. Arizona second baseman Jenny Dalton was named Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player.

The 1996 NCAA Division I softball season, play of college softball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began in February 1996. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 1996 NCAA Division I softball tournament and 1996 Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament and held in Columbus, Georgia at Golden Park, ended on May 27, 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 NAIA baseball tournament</span> Collegiate baseball tournament

The 2023 NAIA baseball tournament was the 66th edition of the NAIA baseball championship. The 46-team tournament began on May 15 with Opening Round games across ten different sites and concluded with the 2023 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho that began on May 26 and ended on June 2. Westmont (CA) defeated host Lewis–Clark State in a winner-take-all championship game 7–6 to capture their first national title in program history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 NAIA baseball tournament</span> Collegiate baseball tournament

The 2024 NAIA baseball tournament is the 67th edition of the NAIA baseball championship. The 46-team tournament began on May 13 with Opening Round games across ten different sites and concludes with the 2024 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho that will begin on May 24 and slated to end on either May 30 or 31.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 NAIA baseball tournament</span> Collegiate baseball tournament

The 2019 NAIA baseball tournament was the 63rd edition of the NAIA baseball championship. The 46-team tournament began on May 13 with Opening Round games across nine different sites and concluded with the 2019 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho that began on May 24 and ended on May 31. Tennessee Wesleyan defeated St. Thomas (FL) 6–2 in a winner-take-all championship game for their second title in program history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 NAIA baseball tournament</span> Collegiate baseball tournament

The 2017 NAIA baseball tournament was the 61st edition of the NAIA baseball championship. The 46-team tournament began on May 15 with Opening Round games across nine different sites and concluded with the 2017 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho that began on May 26 and ended on June 2. In a rematch of the previous year's championship game, Lewis–Clark State (ID) defeated Faulkner (AL) 6–4 in a winner-take-all championship game for their third straight title and their 19th title in program history. Faulkner forced a winner-take-all championship with a 6–5 victory over Lewis–Clark State the night before.

References

  1. "NAIA Softball Championship Results" (PDF). NAIA. NAIA.org. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  2. Gewirtz, Jason (2020-04-16). "Columbus, Georgia, to Host 2021–2023 NAIA Softball Championship". SportsTravel. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  3. "NAIA 2019 Softball World Series Championship Recap". May 30, 2019.
  4. "Southern Oregon vs. Oregon Tech - Box Score - 5/31/2023". NAIA Stats. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  5. "Jessup University (CA) vs. Our Lady of the Lake - Box Score - 5/29/2024". NAIA Stats. Retrieved 2024-05-29.