WICHITA, Kan. – The Butler softball team started slowly, but eventually rolled to an 8-0 run-rule win over Colby in the second round of the NJCAA Region VI Division I tournament at Wilkins Stadium.
Colby starting pitcher Skyler Mengel held Butler to just one run through the first four innings, that coming on an RBI by Sydney Stuever in the third inning.
Butler pitcher Maggie Ham, however was even better. She dominated Colby, striking out 12 in five innings, allowing just one walk and one hit.
The Grizzlies eventually started scoring in the bottom of the fifth. Tyler Casada singled up the middle and would later score on a wild pitch to make it 2-0. Butler broke the game open with a three-run home run blasted to center by Kate James. The home run is her 22nd of the season, continuing to extend her school-record for homers in a season.
Butler would get two more runs that scored on wild pitches later in the inning, making it 7-0 and the game ended when Syd Stuever hit a deep fly to center with the bases loaded. Alex Millspaugh tagged from third and scored to end the game by run rule.
The Grizzlies are now 46-2 on the season, just three wins shy of the school-record for 49 wins established by both the 2007 and 2008 teams. Colby falls to 21-27.
Butler will continue play in the Region VI tournament on Sunday at Wichita State. Butler will face third-seeded Seward (32-24) at 11 a.m. The winner will advance directly to the championship game at 5 p.m.
