LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The National Fastpitch Coaches Association released their final poll for the 2023 Division II softball season on Tuesday following the conclusion of the national championships, with Northwest Nazarene among the teams receiving votes just outside the Top 25.

The Nighthawks received eight votes in the poll, tied for second-most with fellow West Region member Sonoma State among the programs that did not crack the top 25. Other West Region programs in the poll include regional champion Cal State San Marcos at No. 7 and regional runner-up Concordia at No. 15.

National Champion North Georgia topped the poll, followed by Grand Valley State, UT Tyler, Central Oklahoma, and East Stroudsburg in the top five.

In 2023, the Nighthawks set program records for overall wins (39-17 record) and conference wins (21-3 mark in the GNAC). NNU won the GNAC regular season title by six games and flew to the GNAC tournament title with a 3-0 mark at the tourney with just three runs allowed in the three victories. The Nighthawks then advanced to NCAA Regionals for the fourth time in the last five full seasons, where they came as close as could be to their first NCAA Super Regional appearance, winning three games at the regional before falling to Concordia.

NNU allowed three runs or less in each of their last 14 games and 20 of the final 21 contests. In the circle, the Nighthawks led the GNAC and ranked 20th in the nation with a 1.96 team ERA and 15th nationally with a 1.08 WHIP. Outfielder Maia McNicoll and utility/pitcher Tori Hensley were consensus All-Region honorees while Sidney Booth also earned one regional accolade. McNicoll was the GNAC Player of the Year, leading seven All-GNAC honorees, with Rich Wagner also receiving his fourth GNAC Coach of the Year honor (third in a row). 

This final poll marks the only time in 2023 that NNU was receiving votes in the NFCA Top 25. NNU was in the receiving votes category three weeks last season, while their last numbered appearance in the poll came in 2021 when they were 25th on two occasions.