BEAUMONT, Texas - Butler softball ran its winning streak to 56 consecutive victories with a 10-7 comeback win over Trinity Valley on Saturday at the Texas Crossover.
With the win, the Grizzlies (18-0 overall) passed NCAA Division II school Northern Kentucky, setting what is believed to be the longest winning streak in college softball history. NJCAA records have not been officially kept for consecutive wins.
Butler tied the mark earlier Saturday with an 11-1 run-rule win over Kilgore (TX).
The Grizzlies, who have averaged 13.3 runs scored in four games this weekend, will play Navarro (TX) at 9:00 a.m., then end the three-day Crossover event with an 11:00 a.m. contest against Northeast Texas.
Butler 11, Kilgore (TX) 1 - 5 innings
The Grizzlies contiinued its torrid offensive pace with a six-run first inning against Kilgore. Brynn Minor doubled to left-center to score Kenzie Young for the game's first run.
Allison Jurgensen followed with a two-run single up the middle to drive in Minor and Becca Schulte. Two batters later, Darrian Hale doubled down the left-field line to score Jurgensen. Hale would later score on a wild pitch, then Butler would complete the scoring with a Kenzie Young bases-loaded walk to plate Caylie Kifer.
Butler was shut out in the second, ending an 10-inning streak of scoring a run. However, the Grizzlies would go up 7-0 in the third when Kifer scored from third base on a wild pitch.
In the fifth, Brynn Minor put the Grizzlies in position for a run-rule win with a grand slam home run and sixth overall homer on the season.
Starter Regan Mergele (7-0) was credited with the win with three shutout innings. The righthander allowed just one hit while striking out four. Minor tossed the final two innings, giving up one run on three hits and fanning two.
Minor was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and five RBI at the plate. The Grizzlies had two runs each from Young, Schulte, Minor and Kifer in the victory.
Butler 10, Trinity Valley 7
Jaycee McIntyre gave Trinity an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the first inning, but the Grizzlies responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning.
Brynn Minor's two-run single to right-center scored Kenzie Young and Ki'Audra Hayter, then Darrian Hale clubbed a two-run home run to left to put Butler up 4-1.
Minor and Allison Jurgensen added RBIs in the second. Minor singled down the left-field line to score Young, then Jurgensen walked with the bases loaded to bring in Schulte.
Butler looked to be in command with a 6-1 lead over the Cardinals after two innings, but Trinity quickly got back into the contest with a three-run homer from Breana Florez in the third.
Trinity then jumped in front with three runs in the fourth inning. The Cardinals took the lead when Courtney Johnson reached first on a throwing error by Jurgensen, which allowed two runs to score.
Hayter tied the game in the fifth with a double to center, which scored Caylie Kifer.
Jurgensen's RBI single to left to score Minor put the Grizzlies back in the lead, then Alexis Reed added a two-run home run to center field for a 10-7 cushion.
Hayter led Butler with a 3-for-5 hitting performance, while Minor was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI. Hale, Reed and Jurgensen also drove in two runs each.
Minor earned the victory with three shutout innings in relief, as she gave up just two hits and one walk.
NOTES: Butler has averaged 13.3 runs through four games at the Crossover... Through Saturday, the Grizzlies are ranked sixth in the nation for runs scored (173) and seventh in runs per game (9.6).