AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's Note: The above video aired on May 28, 2024.
The UT Tyler softball team stopped by to visit Gov. Greg Abbott in honor of their NCAA Division II softball national championship win.
Back in May, the team won the national title for the first time competing in the DII national championship. UT Tyler defeated Western Washington two games to none in a best-of-three series.
On Friday, players went to the Texas Capitol in Austin for Abbott to congratulate them on their victory.
"It was great to congratulate them in person on their historic season. Congratulations on a hard-earned win and a job well done," Abbott said in a Facebook post.
This year's win is the second championship title for UT Tyler softball. As a Division III team, the Patriots won the national championship in 2016.
Also, 2024 was the team's third consecutive appearance in the World Series.
In 2022, the Patriots advanced to the World Series in the teams first year of competing in Division II. They went 1-2 in the tournament losing to Rogers State, who won the national title. Last year, the Patriots went 3-2 in the tournament ultimately losing to the University of North Georgia in the national semi-finals. UNG would go on to win the national championship.