The DII softball finals head to Frost Stadium at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with the primary pitch approaching Could 22. Of the 64 groups that started the DII softball championship, solely eight stay.
4 of the eight “groups to beat” from the match preview — North Georgia, Saginaw Valley State, UT Tyler and Western Washington — superior as anticipated, whereas two others noticed their season finish one sport quick within the tremendous regionals. Moreover, one of many “groups to observe” additionally superior to Chattanooga, as Tempo’s pitching employees proved to be all that was anticipated.
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In all, 5 No. 1 seeds — Central Oklahoma, Tempo, Saginaw Valley State, Tampa and UT Tyler — made it by means of, whereas No. 2 North Georgia additionally superior. For those who go by the seeding, the “shock” groups to make it to the finals had been No. 4 seed Western Washington and No. 4 seed Shippensburg. Western Washington is the defending nationwide runners-up, so the Vikings weren’t an excessive amount of of a shock.
Here is a take a look at every staff remaining within the hunt.
The DII softball finals, by the numbers
| Stats | UCO | Tempo | UNG | SHIPP | SVSU | Tampa | UT Tyler | WWU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Document | 51-9 | 46-11 | 48-14 | 36-20 | 48-13 | 45-10 | 57-5 | 45-11 |
| Miles from TN | 841 | 855 | 106 | 609.2 | 703 | 573 | 695 | 2,667 |
| Runs scored | 403 | 249 | 485 | 314 | 281 | 260 | 499 | 355 |
| Batting common | .330 | .295 | .347 | .322 | .304 | .279 | .350 | .332 |
| House runs | 50 | 13 | 83 | 37 | 52 | 17 | 69 | 32 |
| ERA | 1.97 | 1.20 | 3.94 | 3.61 | 2.39 | 1.13 | 1.33 | 1.98 |
| WHIP | 1.09 | 0.86 | 1.53 | 1.46 | 1.07 | 0.94 | 0.94 | 1.12 |
| Okay/7 | 5.7 | 7.8 | 5.2 | 6.2 | 4.3 | 2.69 | 6.8 | 5.1 |
The DII softball finals: A team-by-team look
Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos are certainly one of three groups within the finals which have a nationwide championship underneath their belts, successful all of it in 2013. They’ve been a nationwide energy just about ever since, having made the match in all however one match since their championship. Terin Ritz, who was on the 2023 finals squad, is without doubt one of the finest gamers in DII, hurting groups with the bat and her arm. On the season, she is hitting .412 with 18 doubles, 18 dwelling runs and 77 RBIs whereas going 22-4 with a 1.51 ERA and 137 strikeouts within the circle.
Tempo. Tempo is certainly one of two applications making its finals debut in 2025. The Setters earned the No. 1 seed within the East on the heels of simply their second NE10 title in program historical past. They acquired to the finals because of the most effective pitchers in DII, Gisselle Garcia. Garcia struck out 35 batters in three regional begins whereas permitting only one earned run after which began each one of many tremendous regional video games, together with the large 8-0 victory that evened the sequence.
North Georgia. The Nighthawks are in acquainted territory. They need to win their third nationwide championship prior to now 10 tournaments. The final time they gained was a mere two years in the past — the primary time the match was ever in Chattanooga. Whereas the Nighthawks are again the place they gained all of it, freshman Carleigh Knowles is seeking to depart her mark. The PBC freshman of the yr was tied for the DII lead in dwelling runs with 2, was sixth in RBIs with 68, and within the prime 20 with 60 runs scored.
Saginaw Valley State. The Cardinals return to the DII softball finals for the second time in program historical past and first time since 2011. They romped by means of the regionals, permitting simply three runs in three-straight wins after which got here from behind in an exciting Recreation 3 of the tremendous regionals, downing final yr’s Midwest champs, UIndy. Macy Irelan, the GLIAC pitcher of the yr, has been sturdy all season, with a 22-3 file, 1.27 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 233 strikeouts.
Shippensburg. The Raiders are heading to the finals for the third time in program historical past, however the first in additional than twenty years. Shippensburg has but to lose within the DII softball championship, and that features two wins over No. 1 East Stroudsburg within the Atlantic regional match after which sweeping No. 2 Kutztown within the supers. Freshman Gianna Cimino and sophomore Sarah Sabocsik are each purple sizzling within the match, every hitting .529 with Cimino homering in every of the final two video games. The Raiders are full of youth and may very well be on the verge of one thing massive.
Tampa. The Spartans made program historical past and gained their first South Area title this previous weekend. It was an odd, however spectacular, tremendous regionals as all three video games ended with the ultimate rating of 5-0. Tampa fell within the first sport, however rallied to take the following two with back-to-back shutouts from Mariah Galhouse and Katie DeSimone, two of the pitchers that earned Tampa recognition as certainly one of DII’s finest rotations.
UT Tyler. It’s the fourth-straight season the Patriots have discovered themselves amongst the ultimate eight. Final yr, they lastly broke by means of and gained all of it, defeating Western Washington for the nationwide championship. Their expertise is deep, they’ve the most effective pitching staffs left standing and are a run-scoring machine — having extra runs scored than any staff remaining within the discipline. This staff is poised to be the primary repeat champions of the century, and first since Cal (PA) did it in 1997-98.
Western Washington. One yr after setting this system file for wins and successful their first West Area title, the Vikings are again within the combine as soon as once more. As soon as within the finals, the Vikings upset prepare, taking down No. 1 AUM and No. 4 UIndy, rode all of them the best way to the championship sequence. Final yr, they had been the No. 6 seed and this yr, they draw the No. 8 seed, in order that upset expertise goes to be wanted. That should not be an issue with a lineup loaded stuffed with returners and all three beginning pitchers again from final yr’s run — a pitching employees that has posted a glowing 1.98 mixed ERA.
