YUMA, Ariz. - Northwest Florida State College made history on Saturday, defeating Florida SouthWestern State College, 4-1, to win its first NJCAA Division I Softball National Championship. 

The Raiders ran the table in the desert, winning five games in five days to finish the season with a record of 61-4. FSW, who won an elimination game on Friday evening after falling to NWF, 3-1, earlier in the day, capped its season with a mark of 56-7. 

Saturday's finale was scoreless into the third, when Northwest Florida State took advantage of a pair of FSW errors to plate four runs. That was more than enough for Tournament MVP and Most Outstanding Pitcher, Cailyn Heyl. 

Heyl went the distance, scattering nine hits over seven innings. She struck out seven. 

For the tournament, Heyl went 5-0 with five complete games. In 35 innings in the circle, she allowed 32 hits and eight runs (1.60 ERA). 

Sister Arnold's double plated the Raiders' first two runs in the four-run third. She later scored on Bre Hughes' two-run double. 

The Bucs got on the board in the fifth when Noelani Livingstone drew a leadoff walk then came around to score on Skylar Brennan's double to center. 

Arnold and Hughes both went 2-for-3 with two RBI. 

Brennan was 3-for-4 with the RBI for FSW. 

Arnold was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player and, in addition to Heyl, was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Karson McGowan, Hughes and Sara Watson. 

FSW was represented by Lizzy Kwakernaak, Faith Wharton, Brennan and Livingstone. 

The Bucs' Karolina Dvorakova was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Defensive Player. 

Northwest Florida State's Andy Lee was recognized as the Coach of the Tournament. 

The Raiders' win marks the sixth straight DI National Championship for the FCSAA, taking into account the 2020 season, which did not crown a National Champion due to COVID. 

Chipola College won the title in 2019 followed by three in row for FSW from 2021-23 and Indian River State College in 2024.