Spring has sprung and the 2025 DII softball championship is inching nearer and nearer. Whereas it’s simple to listing UT Tyler, West Texas A&M or Central Oklahoma as contenders for the finals, there are sometimes a number of surprises alongside the way in which that is probably not on the radar in the course of the season.
This is a take a look at 5 groups that are not within the high 10 — in truth three of them simply cracked the highest 25 this week for the primary time all season. Disregard the nationwide rankings. These are groups that may make a variety of noise come Might.
Saint Leo
The Lions have gained six in a row and 22 of their final 23. Wins over that span embrace a sweep over nationally ranked Tiffin, then-nationally ranked Wilmington (DE) and nationally ranked Barry who’s scorching on the Lions path within the South Area. Per Inkblot Sports activities, they’re the fourth-best workforce within the South Area — a area that has 5 groups within the high 30 of DII softball. Faktor Sports activities has the Lions with the fifth-best KPI in DII, and the South Area makes up Nos. 2-5, once more reiterating how robust it’s to play right here. They’re getting it accomplished within the circle, the place a four-head monster has mixed for a 2.27 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.
Tiffin
What a season for the Dragons. Tiffin enters the nationwide polls this week for the primary time since 2011, so that ought to inform you how effectively it’s taking part in. That features a enormous collection sweep towards Findlay and Saginaw Valley State, two groups vying atop the Midwest Area. The Dragons are pink scorching, winners of 5 in a row and 15 of their final 16, giving them the best KPI within the G-MAC and second highest within the Midwest Area. They lead the convention on the plate in house runs, runs scored and RBIs and are among the many high 20 nationally in ERA (1.94), strikeouts (233) and shutouts (12).
Tempo
The Setters are scorching scorching, winners of 16 in a row. That has them at No. 25, cracking the nationwide rankings for the primary time this season. What they’re doing is sort of outstanding: They’ve a high 10 ERA and are high 10 in shutouts and WHIP they usually have accomplished all this towards the eighth hardest schedule in DII softball. They examined themselves early towards a number of nationally ranked groups to combined outcomes, however have righted the ship and have the best RPI and KPI within the East Area by a big margin.
Saginaw Valley State
The Cardinals have gained 10 in a row and 15 of their final 16. They’ve the best RPI within the Midwest, however that earlier collection loss to Tiffin might put their No. 1 seed hopes in jeopardy. Nonetheless, this has been a reasonably regular workforce all season lengthy, posting the best KPI within the Midwest Area. Like lots of the groups on this listing, the Cardinals are fairly sharp within the circle with the No. 8 WHIP in DII (1.02) and an ERA of two.18. SVSU would not have many groups remaining with profitable data on its schedule, so the Cardinals ought to proceed to rack up wins.
MSU Denver
It’s considerably mind-boggling that the Roadrunners don’t get extra love within the nationwide polls. Not even receiving votes, MSU Denver is 21-3 for the reason that calendar flipped to March. Maybe they’re neglected as a result of the Roadrunners have not performed the hardest schedule in a area with three of the most effective groups within the division (West Texas A&M, UT Tyler and Angelo State are all within the high 7) however they’re proper there. Proper now, by the metrics they’re a tournament-bound workforce and in a heated race with Colorado Mesa to win the RMAC. As with many groups within the South Central, there may be a variety of offense right here, as MSU Denver is ranked No. 15 in DII in house runs (45), No. 6 in RBIs (274) and No. 7 in scoring (7.42 per sport).
To your consideration: Biola, Colorado Mesa, Goldey-Beacom, Minnesota State
