MARSHALL, Texas – The talents of the best team in the nation were showcased on the final day of the NCAA Division III National Championship Series as no. 2 East Texas Baptist University erupted for 17 runs and five home runs collecting the program's second National Championship. It is the first time in modern-day history that a team has hosted the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament and won the championship, too. ETBU thwarted no. 10 Belhaven, 8-2, in the first game of the day to force the 'if' game and then belted three home runs in the final game for a 9-5 championship win.
 
"This has been a special group and they have had fun all year and played hard all year and I am so incredibly proud of them. Winning a national championship is something special but what is more special is the women that they are. Their identity is not in this sport but their identity is in Christ and that's what really matters and that has been their focus all year. This something special and this group is something special and I am proud of them," said head coach Janae Shirley.
 
Winning two elimination games for the national championship, ETBU finishes the season with a program best 48 wins. To win the championship, ETBU had to claim back-to-back wins over the Blazers after falling on Tuesday night, 4-3. It was a task the Tigers took on as prior to the tournament Belhaven had won seven of the last 10 meetings. That all changed on Wednesday afternoon for ETBU as they showed out for their home town fans showcasing the talents as the best team in the nation.
 
"I keep going back to our first team meeting and the experience of watching other teams win a national championship on our field and that was a motivating factor for us as we feeling we have the talent and the ability to be in that spot and win that championship and that was our goal from the beginning," said head coach Janae Shirley.
 
ETBU posted 21 hits, 17 runs, and nine extra base hits with five being home runs. Tristen Maddox was named the Tournament MVP as she hit .333 recording eight RBI, two homers, four stolen bases, and was rock solid on defense at short stop. Tauryn Cummings had a national championship day making the All-Tournament team hitting .500 going 3-of-6 with two key home runs. Izabella Morales led the team in batting for the tournament with a .444 average with a RBI on championship day. Rounding out the All-Tournament team is Avery Holland as she went 3-1 in the tournament with the national championship win, a 1.96 ERA, and eight strikeouts.
 
For the day, Mary Frances Ellis led the team going 4-of-6 with three runs scored and a perfect 4-of-4 stealing bases. Maddox followed with a 3-of-5 performance, a double, a home run, and four RBI. Cummings followed going 3-of-6 with two home runs and two RBI. Morales then hit .429 and Haylie Stum batted .375 with a home run and three RBI. Madalyn Melton, Stum, and Maddox all had one home run while Cummings smashed two home runs.
 
Melton won game one recording four strikeouts allowing just two earned runs with three strikeouts on five hits to move to 7-1 on the year. She also recorded a home run in the sixth inning to make it 6-1. In game two, she started and went two innings before being relieved by Holland. Going the rest of the way, Holland earned her 16^th win recording three strikeouts as two earned runs came in on five innings pitched.
 
The win gives ETBU their second national championship in program history winning their first in 2010. They finish the year 28-1 at Bell Park at Taylor Field and recorded the program's longest winning streak at 23 games.
 
Game 2 – Championship Series
#2 ETBU 8, #10 Belhaven 2
After two scoreless innings to start the game, ETBU scored eight runs in the next three innings to shock Belhaven for the win. The Tigers produced 13 hits which tied the most hits that the Belhaven pitching staff had given up all year. Maddox, Morales, and Ellis all had three hits as Stum added two. Maddox then added four RBI with a double and home run which broke the ETBU single season record held by Lacey Lindsey. Melton also added a home run while earning the win with three strikeouts and retiring the first 11 batters of the game. Belhaven didn't get their first hit until the fourth inning.
 
After going 1-2-3 in the first inning, Stum had the games first hit to start the second. ETBU had runners on second and third with two outs but a strikeout ended the chance to score first. Ellis started the third with a bunt single and then stole second base. Maddox followed with a double to left center field for the 1-0 lead as Ellis came around to score. White advanced Maddox to third on a long fly ball and a wild pitch from Belhaven gave ETBU their second run of the game.
 
For the second inning a row the leadoff batter got on base with a  hit as Morales came through singling up the middle. After an interference call for the first out, Ellis singled to put two on base with one out. Maddox came through, again, singling to left field as Morales made the score 3-0. Belhaven cut the lead to two, 3-1, in the top of fifth inning only to see ETBU drop five runs on them in bottom of the inning for an 8-1 lead.
 
With two outs in the fifth inning, Delanie Loya was walked. Hannah Kelley came in to pinch ran and stole second base. Morales followed with a single off the pitcher's glove that allowed Kelley to score making it 4-1. Melton followed with a left field home run as two more runs crossed the plate for a 6-1 lead. Ellis had the third straight hit with two outs singled to the short top and Maddox showed why she was the MVP carrying a shot to right center field giving ETBU a seven-run lead, 8-1. Belhaven picked up a run in the sixth inning but only had one hit in the seventh as ETBU forced the 'if' game, 8-2.
 
Game 3 – Championship Series
#2 ETBU 9, #10 Belhaven 5
ETBU didn't let off the gas in the final game scoring seven runs in the first three innings with four in the bottom of the first. The Tigers won the flip for the final game to be the home team for the final game of 2024 in NCAA Division III softball. ETBU only had eight hits in this game but six were for extra base with three home runs, two doubles, and one triple.
 
Bell and Cummings each had two hits. Bell and Stum added three RBI as Cummings had two and Courtney White one. Melton started the game going two innings giving up two earned runs on five hits with one strikeout. Holland came in and finished the final five innings for the win recording three strikeouts and two earned runs on six hits.
 
Belhaven threatened in the top of the first inning with runners on first and third with one out. After a strikeout by Melton, the bases were loaded by a hit-by-pitch. The inning and threat ended on a ground out to Melton as the Blazers were held in check. ETBU then opened the bottom of the inning with four runs shocking one of the best pitchers in the nation.
 
Maddox and White both were put on base by a hit pitch and walk. After a line out, Stum connected with the ball landing it over the left field fence for a three-run homer. Cummings then followed for back-to-back home runs and a 4-0 lead.
 
Not going away easily, Belhaven scored three runs in the top of the second to cut the lead to one, 4-3. With two outs and Ellis on second and Maddox on first, the pair pulled off a double steal to get into scoring position. Bell followed with a double to right center field scoring both Maddox and Ellis making it, 6-3. The Blazers fought right back with two more runs in the top of the third to pull within one, 6-5. Cummings started the bottom of the inning crushing the ball over the stands in left field for a solo home and a two-run lead, 7-5.
 
After two scoreless innings, Belhaven had a runner on first with two outs but a ground out ended the inning. ETBU added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with two outs as White doubled in Maddox for a three-run lead, 8-5. Bell then tripled to center field bringing in White to put ETBU by four runs, 9-5.
 
In the top of the seventh, the inning started off with a ground out. After a single, the Blazers had a fly out but a hit by pitch put two runners on with two outs. The game ended on a fielder's choice as Cummings tapped third base on the at-bat for the final out to start the celebration.
 
ETBU's magic season ends with 48 wins going 28-1 on their home field in 2024.