ST GEORGE, Utah – The Butler softball team lost for the first time in its past 33 games on Wednesday, but bounced back with another run-rule victory to become one of the final eight teams still alive in the NJCAA Division I national tournament on Wednesday at the Canyons Complex.
The top-seeded Grizzlies were besieged by errors in an 8-6 loss to Wallace State (Ala.) in the second round of the of the tournament. Dropped into the loser's bracket, Butler answered in a big way, beating Walters State (Tenn.) 9-1 in five innings.
Butler is currently 52-3, continuing to extend the school record for wins in a season. With two wins in Utah, this is the first of Butler's five national tournament teams to have multiple wins in a single tournament.
The Grizzlies are scheduled to play Friday at 2:30 MST against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, giving Butler a chance to avenge a 7-3 loss to NEO on March 16 in Joplin, Mo.
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Wallace State (Ala.) 8, Butler 6
The Lions never trailed in the contest, using a pair of two-run frames en route to a 5-1 lead through the first four innings. Wallace State added to its lead with two runs in the sixth, but Butler countered with two runs of its own in the home half of the frame to stay within striking distance at 7-3.
Wallace State outfielder Katie Gentle tacked on a key Lion insurance run with a solo homer in the seventh. That run proved to be vital as Butler mounted a furious final rally in its final at-bat as the Grizzlies pulled to within two run at 8-6 following a towering two-out, three-run home run from Kate James. Wallace reliever BreeAnna Blevins (Save) then came on and gave up a single to Ashley Malone to bring up the potential tying run, but Blevins was able to retire Ashton Atwell on strikes to end the game.
Gentle finished with five RBI to lead the Lions, while WSCC starter Lindsey DeFee scattered eight hits and six runs, five earned, with four strikeouts to pick up the win. James collected two hits to go with her three RBI to pace Butler offensively. Butler starter Maggie Ham surrendered four runs and four hits in three innings to take the loss.
Butler 9, Walters State (Tenn.) 1 – five innings
Coming off a quarterfinal loss to Wallace State earlier in the day, Butler wasted little time getting back into the groove as the Grizzlies plated four runs in their first at-bats to take an early 4-0 lead. The big shot was a leadoff home run by Sydney Stuever, a ball that was blasted well beyond the center field fence.
Butler hurler Maggie Ham bounced back from a tough outing the game before by pitching four innings of shutout softball, scattering three hits while fanning five. Mac Millspaugh pitched the fifth inning, allowing one run after loading the bases.
Walters State backstop Kaylea Payne picked up her team's lone RBI with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth. Senators' pitcher Kelsey Weddle was touched up for nine runs and eight hits in 4.2 innings to take the loss.