CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE – UT Tyler has won their second straight NCAA Division II Softball National Championship after beating Tampa 3-0 to win the series 2-0.
 
The Patriots are the first back-to-back championship winners in Division II softball since California (Pa.) went back to back in 1997-1998. They are also the first team to not allow a run in the championship series since the Division II championship moved to its current format in 2016.
 
During their back-to-back championship run, the Patriots are a combined 120-13, including a 58-8 record in 2024 and a 62-5 record in 2025.
 
The Patriots played the visitor role today but went down in order to start the game. That brought on Primrose Aholelei, who worked around a two out walk with a flyout and two strikeouts to keep the rally at bay.
 
Aholelei followed that up with another strikeout in the second, two more in the third, another in the fourth, two more in the fifth, and another in the sixth before allowing her first hit of the game with two outs. In that run she sat down 15 straight hitters from Tampa before the two out single broke up her no-hit bid.
 
While Aholelei was controlling the game in the circle, the Patriots offense began to get things rolling in the fourth. Sam Schott drew a two-out walk, and Taryn Barney hammered a double off the left center field wall to score Schott from first to make it 1-0. Hailey Fannin pinch ran, and she would come around to score as Miia Campos followed with her own double to make it 2-0.
 
In the fifth, JT Smith would single with one out to reach base, and she came around to score as Ka'Lyn Watson drilled her own double into the left center field gap to make it 3-0. That would ultimately be the final run of the game but Aholelei would keep Tampa completely at bay.
 
In the seventh and final inning of the game, Aholelei would get a flyout and two straight strikeouts to end the game and secure the championship.
 
Aholelei's performance saw her go all seven innings for her 22^nd win of the season. She allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out a season high 12 batters. That effort wrapped up the Most Outstanding Player honor for the tournament.
 
Both JT Smith and Ka'Lyn Watson went 2-for-4 on the day to lead the team. Six different players recorded a hit and three different players recorded a run scored.

Aholelei, Smith, Watson, Abbie Behe, and Taryn Barney each were selected to the NCAA Division II Softball World Series All-Championship Team, with Aholelei being named the Most Outstanding Player.