LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – UT Tyler softball will begin their 2025 campaign as the #1 ranked team in the NFCA GoRout Division II Preseason Coaches Poll as they look to defend their national championship from the 2024 season.
The 2025 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll Committee. The committee consists of 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the NCAA's eight regions. The first regular season poll will come out on February 11
th and each week will follow on each Tuesday throughout the regular season.
UT Tyler garnered all 16 first place votes in the poll and picked up 400 points in the preseason edition of the poll that was released on Tuesday. The Patriots are followed by Western Washington at the #2 spot, the team the Patriots took down in the championship series in 2024.
The Patriots are joined by LSC competitors Angelo State (#11), West Texas A&M (#13), and Oklahoma Christian (#24) in the top 25.
The Patriots in 2024 put together one of their best seasons in program history, finishing the year 58-8 overall and 37-5 in LSC play. The Patriots claimed a share of the Lone Star Conference Regular Season Championship, following that up with qualification into the NCAA Tournament. There, the Patriots caught fire, winning 10 straight games, four of which by six or more runs, on their way to taking the national championship and first of the Division II era for the UT Tyler athletic department.
Returning for action for the Patriots will be key contributors
Sam Schott,
JT Smith, and
Kaylee Davis as the trio will look to lead the program back to their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and become the first team to win back-to-back national championships since California (Pa.) in 1997-1998.
UT Tyler will begin their 2025 season on January 31
st as part of the 2025 DII First Pitch Invitational in Conroe, Texas. The Patriots will face Southeastern Oklahoma State and Regis on their first day of competition.
