- Gabriella Valforte’s sixth inning grand slam lifted West Texas A&M to a 4-1 victory over Biola on Tuesday afternoon to win the 2021 NCAA Division II Softball Championship. The victory marked the program’s second national title, winning their first in 2014.
West Texas A&M defeated Biola in a decisive third game to win the 2021 DII softball championship. View complete coverage of this year's tournament here.
Fifth-seeded Biola and sixth-seeded West Texas A&M will face off for the 2021 NCAA DII title. The Eagles (25-14) and Lady Buffs (41-11) each went 3-0 to earn their first berths into the Championship Series held at the Assembly Athletic Complex on the campus of Metropolitan State University of Denver.
North Georgia pitcher Kylee Smith, a first-team at-large selection, became the 19
th four-time NFCA All-American in Division II. Additionally, she is now in elite company with CSUN pitcher Debbie Dickman (1987-90), Ashland outfielder Sunny Litteral (1996-99) and Lock Haven pitcher Kristin Erb (2006-09) as the fourth Division II student-athlete to earn four first-team honors.
Smith captured Peach Belt Pitcher of the Year accolades for the fourth straight season. She played an instrumental role in the NightHawks’ seventh straight PBC title and sixth berth into the national championship tournament.
Missouri Western second baseman Sydni Hawkins was the lone unanimous first-team selection. The MIAA Player of the Year led the league in hitting (.483) and on-base percentage (.522), setting new program marks by 53 and 56 points, respectively.
The West Texas A&M Lady Buffs softball team adds another accolade to their successful regular season performance. Catcher Shanna McBroom was named the Lone Star Conference Player of the Year. The senior became the fourth Lady Buff in program history to receive the honor.