The 2024 NAIA softball tournament was the 43rd edition of the NAIA softball championship. The 48-team tournament began on May 13 with Opening Round games across ten different sites and concluded with the 2024 NAIA Softball World Series Columbus, Georgia that started on May 23 and ended on May 29.
Our Lady of the Lake (TX) won its first NAIA title, defeating Jessup (CA) 2–0. Cassandra Valdez of Our Lady of the Lake was named tournament MVP.
The 48 participating teams were selected from all eligible NAIA teams. 32 teams were awarded automatic bids as either champions and/or runners-up of their conferences and 16 teams were selected at-large by the National Selection Committee. Teams were then placed into one of ten pre-determined Opening Round sites, with eight sites consisting of five teams and two sites consisting of four teams, each of which was conducted via a double-elimination tournament. The winners of each of the Opening Round sites will advanced to the NAIA Softball World Series.
Format For the 2024 tournament, the field was expanded to 48 teams, with 32 receiving an automatic bid by either winning their conference's tournament, finishing as their conference tournament runner-up, or by finishing in first place in their conference. The remaining 16 bids were issued at large, with selections extended by the NAIA Selection Committee.
Opening round hosts On May 1, the NAIA announced the ten opening round host sites, which were played from May 13–16.
Venue Location Host Cox Softball Complex Fayette, MO Central Methodist University UC Softball Complex Williamsburg, KY University of the Cumberlands Grizzly Softball Complex Lawrenceville, GA Georgia Gwinnett College Marian Softball Diamond Indianapolis, IN Marian University Open Space Park Sioux Center, IA Northwestern College Ann Lacy Stadium Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City University Stilwell Stadium Klamath Falls, OR Oregon Tech Bill Smith Ballpark Chickasha, OK University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma St. Mary's University Softball Field San Antonio, TX Our Lady of the Lake University Joseph & Nancy Fail Field Hattiesburg, MS William Carey University
Bids Conferences with 10 or more members received two automatic berths, while conferences with less than 10 received one. All conferences awarded a bid to their tournament champion.
Automatic SchoolConferenceRecordBerthLast NAIA Appearance Aquinas (MI) Wolverine-Hoosier 40–13 Tournament runner-up 2021 (Bowling Green Bracket) Benedictine (KS) Heart 39–14 Tournament runner-up First appearance Central Methodist (MO) Heart 48–4 Regular season champion 2023 NAIA Softball World Series Cottey (MO) American Midwest 31–19 Regular season champion 2023 (Chickasha Bracket) Dickinson State (ND) North Star 24–22 Tournament champion 2021 (Oklahoma City Bracket) Eastern Oregon Cascade 37–8 Tournament champion 2022 (Oklahoma City Bracket) Embry–Riddle (AZ) Cal-Pac 38–11 Tournament champion 2023 (Klamath Falls Bracket) Evangel (MO) Kansas 36–8 Regular season champion 2006 NAIA Softball World Series (Pool A) Florida National Continental 23–22 Tournament runner-up First appearance Freed–Hardeman (TN) Mid-South 31–16 Tournament champion 2023 (Henderson Bracket) Georgia Gwinnett Continental 29–15 Tournament champion 2023 NAIA Softball World Series Indiana Wesleyan Crossroads 40–13 Tournament runner-up 2023 (Williamsburg Bracket) IU Southeast River States 34–16 Regular season champion 2023 (Baldwin City Bracket) LSU–Alexandria Red River 36–12 Tournament champion 2019 (Lawrenceville Bracket)Madonna (MI) Wolverine-Hoosier 48–3 Regular season champion 2023 (Williamsburg Bracket) Marian (IN) Crossroads 44–10 Regular season champion 2023 NAIA Softball World Series Middle Georgia State Southern States 33–14 Tournament runner-up 2023 (Indianapolis Bracket) Midland (NE) Great Plains 42–10 Tournament runner-up 2023 NAIA Softball World Series Missouri Baptist American Midwest 33–12 Regular season champion First appearance Northwestern (IA) Great Plains 48–5 Regular season champion 2023 (Klamath Falls Bracket) Oklahoma City (OK) Sooner 49–3 Regular season champion 2023 (Oklahoma City Bracket) Oregon Tech Cascade 43–9 Regular season champion 2023 NAIA Softball World Series Ottawa (KS) Kansas 38–16 Regular season runner-up 2023 (Henderson Bracket) Our Lady of the Lake (TX) Red River 50–3 Regular season champion 2023 NAIA Softball World Series Reinhardt (GA) Appalachian 42–8 Regular season champion 2023 (Ashland Bracket) Rio Grande (OH) River States 34–17 Tournament champion 2022 (Klamath Falls Bracket) Saint Xavier (IL) Chicagoland 27–12 Tournament champion 2023 (Klamath Falls Bracket) Science & Arts (OK) Sooner 44–7 Tournament champion 2023 NAIA Softball World Series St. Thomas (FL) The Sun 38–10 Tournament champion 2014 (Concordia Bracket) Tennessee Wesleyan Appalachian 27–13 Tournament runner-up 2023 (Indianapolis Bracket) Vanguard (CA) Golden State 40–11 Tournament champion 2023 (Ashland Bracket) William Carey (MS) Southern States 38–12 Regular season champion 2022 (Hattiesburg Bracket)
At-Large SchoolConferenceRecordLast NAIA Appearance Baker (KS)Heart 33–14 2023 NAIA Softball World Series Bellevue (NE)North Star 32–20 2019 (Dodge City Bracket) Coastal GeorgiaThe Sun 36–12 2023 (Lawrenceville Bracket) College of IdahoCascade 32–17 2023 (Baldwin City Bracket) Cumberlands (KY)Mid-South 44–7 2023 NAIA Softball World Series Friends (KS) Kansas 34–17 2011 NAIA Softball World Series (Pool A) Grand View (IA) Heart 33–17 2022 NAIA Softball World Series Hope International (CA) Golden State 35–15 2023 (San Antonio Bracket) Houston–Victoria (TX) Red River 32–12 2021 (Hattiesburg Bracket) Jessup (CA) Golden State 36–9 2022 (Klamath Falls Bracket) Mid-America Christian (OK) Sooner 36–15 First appearance St. Francis (IL) Chicagoland 29–14 2023 (Henderson Bracket) Southeastern (FL) The Sun 38–17 2023 (Ashland Bracket) Southern Oregon Cascade 42–11 2023 NAIA Softball World Series Spring Arbor (MI) Crossroads 33–20 1986 NAIA Softball World Series Stillman (AL) Southern States 35–13 First appearance
By conference +ConferenceTotalSchoolsCascade4College of Idaho, Eastern Oregon, Oregon Tech, Southern OregonHeart4Baker (KS), Benedictine (KS), Central Methodist (MO), Grand View (IA)Crossroads3Indiana Wesleyan, Marian (IN), Spring Arbor (MI)Golden State3Jessup (CA), Hope International (CA), Vanguard (CA)Kansas3Evangel (MO), Friends (KS), Ottawa (KS)Red River3Houston–Victoria (TX), LSU–Alexandria, Our Lady of the Lake (TX)Sooner3Mid-America Christian (OK), Oklahoma City (OK), Science & Arts (OK)Southern States3Middle Georgia State, Stillman (AL), William Carey (MS)The Sun3Coastal Georgia, Southeastern (FL), St. Thomas (FL)American Midwest2Cottey (MO), Missouri BaptistAppalachian2Reinhardt (GA), Tennessee WesleyanChicagoland2Saint Xavier (IL), St. Francis (IL)Continental2Georgia Gwinnett, Florida NationalGreat Plains2Midland (NE), Northwestern (IA)Mid-South2Cumberlands (KY), Freed–Hardeman (TN)North Star2Bellevue (NE), Dickinson State (ND)River States2IU Southeast, Rio Grande (OH)Wolverine-Hoosier2Aquinas (MI), Madonna (MI)Cal-Pac1Embry–Riddle (AZ)
Opening Round The Opening Round was held from May 13 to 16.
Chickasha Bracket Hosted by University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma at Bill Smith Ballpark
Fayette Bracket Hosted by Central Methodist University at Cox Softball Complex
Hattiesburg Bracket Hosted by William Carey University at Joseph & Nancy Fail Field
Indianapolis Bracket Hosted by Marian University at Marian Softball Diamond
Klamath Falls Bracket Hosted by Oregon Tech at Stilwell Stadium
Lawrenceville Bracket Hosted by Georgia Gwinnett College at Grizzly Softball Complex
Oklahoma City Bracket Hosted by Oklahoma City University at Ann Lacy Stadium
San Antonio Bracket Hosted by Our Lady of the Lake University at St. Mary's University Softball Stadium
Sioux Center Bracket Hosted by Northwestern College at Open Space Park
Williamsburg Bracket Hosted by the University of the Cumberlands at UC Softball Complex
NAIA Softball World Series The NAIA Softball World Series was held at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Georgia from May 23 to 29.
Participants +SchoolConferenceRecordHead CoachBracketPrevious NAIAWS AppearancesBest NAIAWS FinishNAIA WSRecordCentral Methodist (MO)Heart52-5Pat ReardonFayette4T-5th4-8Cumberlands (KY)Mid-South47-7Bailey DillenderWilliamsburg13rd2-2Georgia GwinnettContinental32-15Kat IhlenburgLawrenceville33rd6-6Jessup (CA)Golden State39-10Brie CampbellHattiesburgnonenone0-0Madonna (MI)Wolverine-Hoosier52-4Ron PezzoniSioux Center5T-5th7-8Oklahoma City (OK)Sooner54-3Phil McSpaddenOklahoma City331st135-49Oregon TechCascade47-10Greg StewartKlamath Falls81st22-14Our Lady of the Lake (TX)Red River53-3Bruce LeningtonSan Antonio1T-9th0-2Science & Arts (OK)Sooner47-7Jadyn WallisChickasha71st16-14Southern OregonCascade40-17Jessica PistoleIndianapolis51st20-6
Bracket Source:
Game results +DateGameWinning teamScoreLosing teamWinning pitcherLosing pitcherSaveNotesMay 23Game 1Jessup5-4Southern OregonKatie Blankenheim (16–5)Katie Machado (25–6) - -Game 2Madonna1-0Georgia GwinnettMaeson Schlaud (36–3)Annalise Jarvis (19–6) - -Game 3Oregon Tech2-1CumberlandsKacie Schmidt (26–7)Lindsey Shope (17–3) - -Game 4Science & Arts8-3Central MethodistSophie Williams (28–4)Jordan Ball (27–2) - -May 24Game 5Cumberlands1-0 (8 inn.)Georgia GwinnettTalli Burgess (15–0)Annalise Jarvis (19–7) -Georgia Gwinnett eliminatedGame 6Southern Oregon3-2Central MethodistKatie Machado (26–6)Haile Farris (19–3) -Central Methodist eliminatedGame 7Jessup11-2 (5 inn.)Oklahoma CityBella MacFarlane (5–1)Shelby Cornelson (23–4) - -Game 8Our Lady of the Lake3-0MadonnaCassandra Valdez (27–1)Maeson Schlaud (36–4) - -May 25Game 9Cumberlands4-1Oklahoma CityTalli Burgess (16–0)Shelby Cornelson (23–5) -Oklahoma City eliminatedGame 10Madonna4-3Southern OregonMaeson Schlaud (37–4)Katie Machado (26–7) -Southern Oregon eliminatedGame 11Our Lady of the Lake3-0Oregon TechCassandra Valdez (28–1)Kacie Schmidt (26–8) - -Game 12Science & Arts5-4JessupSophie Williams (29–4)Terra Goetz (14–3) - -May 27Game 13Oregon Tech4-2CumberlandsKacie Schmidt (27–8)Talli Burgess (16–1)Mackenzie Staub (2)Cumberlands eliminated; game delayed & completed on May 28May 28Game 14Jessup4-3MadonnaKatie Blankenheim (17–5)Maeson Schlaud (37–5) -Madonna eliminatedGame 15Our Lady of the Lake4-3 (8 inn.)Science & ArtsCassandra Valdez (29–1)Sophie Williams (29–5) - -Game 16Jessup4-3Oregon TechBella MacFarlane (5–1)Kacie Schmit (27–9) -Oregon Tech eliminatedMay 29Game 17Jessup3-2Science & ArtsKatie Blankenheim (18–5)Sophie Williams (29–6) -Science & Arts eliminatedGame 18Our Lady of the Lake2-0JessupCassandra Valdez (30–1)Terra Goetz (14–4) -Our Lady of the Lake wins NAIA Softball World Series
Championship game Source:
All-Tournament Team +PositionPlayerSchoolPTalli BurgessCumberlandsAnnalise JarvisGeorgia GwinnettMaeson SchlaudMadonnaKacie SchmidtOregon TechSophie WilliamsScience & ArtsP/UTLCassandra Valdez Our Lady of the Lake1BPuakea MilbourneOregon TechINFSarah GilesJessupMalea McMurtreyScience & ArtsINF/OFHailey SevaSouthern OregonOFKayla DreeseOur Lady of the LakeAmber GainerCumberlandsAlyssa GauthierMadonnaMacenzie RuthScience & ArtsUTLSam LorgeJessupMaddy YbarraJessup
Media coverage
Live-streaming The Opening Round live streams were produced by the host schools. World Series games from May 23–28 were streamed on the NAIA Network with play-by-play by Jack Kreuzer.
Television The semifinals and national championship were broadcast on ESPN3, with Kreuzer providing play-by-play and Columbus State University softball coach Brad Huskisson serving as the analyst.
Notes
References