Official NFCA Release

TACOMA, Wash. — The 2026 Northwest Conference Regular Season Champion Pacific Lutheran University softball squad end the season ranked 24th nationally in the final installment of the National fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/GoRout Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.

The Lutes (35-12, 24-4 NWC) rank 24th, one of two NWC teams in the poll, with 12 points, sitting five points shy of 23rd-ranked Middlebury College (35-10) of Vermont. 
 
2026 National Champion University of Redlands (48-6) sits atop the poll with 250 points and all 10 first place votes with runner-up Trine University (41-8) second with 240 points. Simpson College (41-8) is third followed by Belhaven University (44-12) and NWC rival Linfield University (43-8). 
 
Pacific Lutheran won its first conference title since 2003 this spring and hosted the NWC Tournament for the first time in program history. The Lutes' season continued at the NCAA Division III Tournament, qualifying for the first time since winning the 2012 national title.