NCAA Division III softball tournament

NCAA Division III softball tournament
SportCollege softball
Founded1982
No. of teams231
Country United States
Most recent
champion(s)
East Texas Baptist (2nd)
Most titlesTCNJ (6)
TV partner(s)ESPNU
Official websiteNCAA.com

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 most successful team in championship history is TCNJ, which has six national titles.

The reigning national champions are East Texas Baptist, who won their second national title in 2024.

History

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Softball was one of twelve women's sports added to the NCAA championship program for the 1981–82 school year, as the NCAA engaged in battle with the AIAW for sole governance of women's collegiate sports. The AIAW continued to conduct its established championship program in the same twelve (and other) sports; however, after a year of dual women's championships, the NCAA conquered the AIAW and usurped its authority and membership.[1]

Results

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NCAA Division III Softball Championship
Year Site Championship results
Winner Score Runner-up
1982
Details
Ewing, NJ Eastern Connecticut State 2–0 Trenton State
1983
Details
Willimantic, CT Trenton State 7–0 Buena Vista
1984
Details
De Pere, WI Buena Vista 3–1 Trenton State
1985
Details
Willimantic, CT Eastern Connecticut State (2) 1–0 Trenton State
1986
Details
Storm Lake, IA Eastern Connecticut State (3) 1–0 Central (IA)
1987
Details
Willimantic, CT Trenton State (2) 3–0 Wisconsin–Whitewater
1988
Details
Elmhurst, IL Central (IA) 3–2 Allegheny
1989
Details
Ewing, NJ Trenton State (3) 8–7
(9 inn.)
Eastern Connecticut State
1990
Details
Storm Lake, IA Eastern Connecticut State (4) 1–0 Trenton State
1991
Details
Willimantic, CT Central (IA) (2) 4–0 Eastern Connecticut State
1992
Details
Pella, IA Trenton State (4) 4–0 Buena Vista
1993
Details
Decatur, IL Central (IA) (3) 7–3 Trenton State
1994
Details
Salem, VA Trenton State (5) 6–5 Bridgewater State
1995
Details
Storm Lake, IA Chapman 4–2 Trenton State
1996
Details
Salem, VA Trenton State (6) 7–2 Chapman
1997
Details
Eau Claire, WI Simpson 2–1
(9 inn.)
Montclair State
1998
Details
Salem, VA Wisconsin–Stevens Point 3–1 Chapman
1999
Details
Eau Claire, WI Simpson (2) 6–0 Chapman
2000
Details
Salem, VA Saint Mary's (MN) 5–0 Chapman
2001
Details
Eau Claire, WI Muskingum 5–1 Central (IA)
2002
Details
Ithaca 1–0 Lake Forest
2003
Details
Salem, VA Central (IA) (4) 5–3 Salisbury
2004
Details
St. Thomas (MN) 2–0 Moravian
2005
Details
Raleigh, NC St. Thomas (MN) (2) 9–3 Salisbury
2006
Details
Rutgers–Camden 3–2 St. Thomas (MN)
2007
Details
Salem, VA Linfield 10–2
(6 inn.)
Washington–St. Louis
2008
Details
Wisconsin–Eau Claire 4–3
(9 inn.)
Wisconsin–Whitewater
2009
Details
Montclair, NJ Messiah 2–0 Coe
2010
Details
Eau Claire, WI East Texas Baptist 5–4 Linfield
2011
Details
Salem, VA Linfield (2) 6–2 Christopher Newport
2012
Details
Pacific Lutheran 3–0 Linfield
2013
Details
Eau Claire, WI Tufts 6–5 SUNY Cortland
2014
Details
Tyler, TX Tufts (2) 6–0 Salisbury
2015
Details
Salem, VA Tufts (3) 7–4 Texas–Tyler
2016
Details
Texas–Tyler 7–0 Messiah
2017
Details
Oklahoma City, OK Virginia Wesleyan 1–0 St. John Fisher
2018
Details
Virginia Wesleyan (2) 3–1 Illinois Wesleyan
2019
Details
Tyler, TX Texas Lutheran 6–1 Emory
2020
Details
Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021
Details
Salem, VA Virginia Wesleyan (3) 9–1
(5 inn.)
Texas Lutheran
2022
Details
Christopher Newport 3–0 Trine
2023
Details
Marshall, TX Trine 2–1 Salisbury
2024
Details
East Texas Baptist (2) 9–5 Belhaven
2025
Details
Bloomington, IL
2026
Details
Salem, VA

Champions

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Active programs

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Team Titles Years
TCNJ 6 1983, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996
Eastern Connecticut 4 1982, 1985, 1986, 1990
Central (IA) 4 1988, 1991, 1993, 2003
Tufts 3 2013, 2014, 2015
Virginia Wesleyan 3 2017, 2018, 2021
East Texas Baptist 2 2010, 2024
Linfield 2 2007, 2011
Simpson 2 1997, 1999
Trine 1 2023
Christopher Newport 1 2022
Texas Lutheran 1 2019
Pacific Lutheran 1 2012
Messiah 1 2009
Wisconsin–Eau Claire 1 2008
Rutgers–Camden 1 2006
Ithaca 1 2002
Muskingum 1 2001
Saint Mary's (MN) 1 2000
Wisconsin–Stevens Point 1 1998
Chapman 1 1995
Buena Vista 1 1984

Former programs

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Team Titles Years
St. Thomas (MN) 2 2004, 2005
Texas–Tyler 1 2016

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Division III Softball Championship Results" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
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