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OXFORD, Ala. - The Arizona Western College Matadors wrapped up a memorable season with a hard-fought 7-4 defeat to defending national champion Northwest Florida State College (57-6) on Thursday night at Jana McGinnis Field in the NJCAA DI Softball World Series. Arizona Western's postseason run saw the program notch 40 wins and reach the national stage, highlighted by Head Coach Joel Prickett's 800th career victory—a testament to the team's growth and achievement this spring.

Jessica Smith delivered a gritty complete-game effort, recording five strikeouts against one of the nation's most potent lineups. Smith kept the Matadors in contention deep into the game, retiring the side in order in both the first and sixth innings before a decisive fifth-inning home run shifted momentum.

Northwest Florida State pushed ahead in the second inning with a sacrifice fly and then capitalized on an outfield error to make it 2-0. Arizona Western responded as Gabby Weisser singled and scored on a two-out RBI from Rauni Gallegos, trimming the deficit to 2-1. In the fourth, Corinna Talbot reached and raced home on a clutch two-out double by Léa Fréchette to knot the score at 2-2.

The game turned in the top of the fifth, when a throwing error set up defending champion NWF's Jaci Garry for a three-run home run, pushing the Raiders ahead 5-2. Aaliyah Soderlund led off the bottom of the inning with a double, and pinch runner Laisha Ibarra scored on a two-out single by Alissa Piñon to pull within two.

Northwest Florida State added insurance in the seventh with a pinch-hit, two-RBI single. The Matadors showed trademark resilience in their last at-bat, loading the bases with no outs and bringing home Angelina Fortunato on Autumn Arriola's groundout. Still, the NWF closer shut the door, ending Arizona Western's tournament with the tying run left at the plate.

Rauni Gallegos led the Matadors with a two-hit night and an RBI. Léa Fréchette and Aaliyah Soderlund each tallied key doubles, while Alissa Piñon and Autumn Arriola delivered two-out RBIs. Analy Trejo and Alana McDonnell each drew a pair of walks to put runners aboard throughout the contest, fueling a persistent offense that produced all four runs with two outs.

Arizona Western finished the NJCAA DI Softball World Series with a 2-2 record, marking the first time the program has won multiple games on the national stage since 2001.