With just four seniors and just one in the everyday lineup, Tufts gets nearly all of its key pieces back and will be a favorite in 2014. Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com More photos from this game

Tufts answered Cortland's three-run rally with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the fifth and made them hold up as Tufts claimed its first national championship in Division III softball with a 6-5 win on Monday afternoon in Eau Claire, Wis. Full story.

• Softball championship scoreboard
• Title game photo gallery
• Cortland eliminates Salisbury
• Salisbury knocks out UT-Tyler
• Sunday softball championships coverage
• Saturday softball championships coverage
• Friday softball championships coverage

Allyson Fournier battled through a 12-hit effort, allowing five runs, to get her 25th win in 26 decisions on the season.

"National champions. It sounds surreal and has not hit yet," said Tufts coach Cheryl Milligan. "We did not have our best game as we have a few nerves out there. It was fantastic to come out on top."

Cortland State had reached the final by rallying with five runs in the bottom of the seventh to eliminate Salisbury 7-6.