NAIA softball championship

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]

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

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

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NAIA Softball World Series
Year Site Championship game
Champion Score Runner-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 Morgan Softball 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 Morgan Softball 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 Commons Softball 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 Commons Softball 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
  • * = 1st ever "if necessary" game after William Carey came out of losers' bracket to defeat Auburn Montgomery in first championship game of the double-elimination tournament.

Champions

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Active programs

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Team Titles Years
Oklahoma City 11 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2016, 2017, 2022
Southern Oregon 3 2019, 2021, 2023
Our Lady of the Lake 1 2024
USAO 1 2018
Oregon Tech 1 2011
Mobile 1 2006
Thomas (GA) 1 2004

Former programs

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Team Titles Years
Simon Fraser 4 1999, 2003, 2005, 2010
Auburn Montgomery 2 2014, 2015
Pacific Lutheran 2 1988, 1992
Nebraska–Kearney 2 1987, 1990
Emporia State 2 1983, 1984
Concordia Irvine 1 2013
Shorter 1 2012
California Baptist 1 2009
Lubbock Christian 1 2008
Western Washington 1 1998
West Florida 1 1993
Hawaii Loa 1 1991
Saginaw Valley 1 1989
St. Mary's (TX) 1 1986
Quincy 1 1985
Missouri Western 1 1982
Sam Houston State 1 1981

See also

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References

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  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.
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