No. 3-seeded Raiders become first softball program to lose on Day 1 and battle back for NAIA World Series title

COLUMBUS, Ga. — A wild week inside South Commons Complex reached its peak Thursday morning as Southern Oregon battled its way back through the elimination bracket, winning five straight games behind dominant pitching performances from freshman Ayla Davies.

Oklahoma City had cruised through the NAIA Softball World Series up to that point, suffering just one loss — to SOU the night before. The Raiders became the first team since the 2013 format change (which removed pool play) to emerge from the elimination bracket and win the national title.

Only three other times since the format change — 2014, 2015, and 2016 — has Game 19 been required. Southern Oregon is now the first team in the post-pool play era to win the championship after losing on Day 1.

The Raiders took the lead in the bottom of the first inning, 4-2, and never trailed en route to a 6-3 win over Oklahoma City to claim the 2025 NAIA Softball National Championship. The victory marks the fourth national title in SOU softball history.

After struggling offensively in the previous game, the Stars opened the winner-take-all finale with back-to-back solo home runs from Tara Hoehner and Analise Rayburn, both coming with two outs. Southern Oregon answered quickly in the bottom of the first.

The Raiders capitalized on an OCU throwing error, followed by a walk from Kennedy Kila to put two runners on. Hailey Seva also walked, loading the bases with one out. Samantha Pemberton nearly launched a grand slam, but settled for a sacrifice fly to plate SOU’s first run. Vanessa Lang stepped in next and delivered a three-run homer down the left-field line, giving the Raiders a 4-2 lead after one inning.

OCU put a runner on with one out in the second via a dropped third strike, but a flyout and strikeout stranded the runner. Southern Oregon loaded the bases again in the bottom half on an error, a shallow single, and a two-out walk, but Seva struck out swinging, leaving all three runners aboard.

The Stars pulled within a run in the top of the third. Tiffany Paul doubled to right-center, and Iliana Ashford followed with an RBI single down the line. Ashford advanced to third on a wild pitch, but a flyout ended the threat. SOU went down in order in the bottom of the inning with two flyouts and a strikeout.

Rain began falling in the third as both pitchers — Davies and Emersen Heron —requested dry softballs. The fourth inning was mostly quiet until Faith Moultrie and Kaiser Fulton drew walks, but a groundout ended the frame with two on.

In the fifth, Ashford worked a 12-pitch at-bat before Davies struck her out to end the top half. In the bottom of the inning, SOU head coach Jessica Pistole, as she had done all week, called on a pinch hitter for a timely opportunity. Piper Love stepped in but popped up foul with one runner on, ending the threat.

Oklahoma City went down with two quick outs in the top of the sixth before Heron singled. Rally Radacy came up representing the go-ahead run, but her deep fly to right landed just foul, ending the inning with SOU still ahead, 4-3.

The Raiders added insurance in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Kila smashed a two-RBI double off the wall in left, extending the lead to 6-3.

In the seventh, Southern Oregon locked in defensively, allowing just one baserunner as Davies closed out the complete-game win.

Davies finished with seven strikeouts and was named MVP for her debut performance at the NAIA Softball World Series.

Sarah Kerling and Brooke Nordahl were also named to the all-tournament team for SOU.

All-Tournament Team Honorees

Kaysie Jolley – Central Methodist (Mo.)

Abbey Hoffmann – Marian (Ind.)

Olivia Harmon – Grand View (Iowa)

Samantha Holbert – Grand View (Iowa)

Annalise Jarvis – Georgia Gwinnett

Sophie Sisk – Georgia Gwinnett

Makenna Talcot, Georgia Gwinnett

Emily Barry – Eastern Oregon

Kylie Parsons – Eastern Oregon

Hannah Tyree – Eastern Oregon

*Ayla Davies – Southern Oregon

Sarah Kerling – Southern Oregon

Brooke Nordahl – Southern Oregon

Iliana Ashford – Oklahoma City

Emerson Heron – Oklahoma City

Analise Rayburn – Oklahoma City
*Tournament MVP