The Butler softball teams chance at a third national championship trophy came to a crushing halt Thursday after the Grizzlies fell in back-to-back games and were eliminated from the national tournament finishing 5th place overall.
Butler lost in a heartbreaker in the afternoon game to No. 3-ranked Florida Southwestern State by a final score of 2-1. The Grizzlies thought they had tied the game with a homerun by Ari Cordova in the top of the 6th, but an acrobatic yet controversial catch made over the make-shift temporary mesh fencing, in left field was a called out that ended the inning. After about a 15-minute discussion with umpires, tournament directors and the head coaches, the call was upheld, and Butler trailed 2-1.
Kelcie Kippes held the Bucs scoreless in the bottom of the sixth but the Butler bats that have come up big all season long were nonexistent in the final at bat and Butler fell 2-1 to the Bucs and dropped down into an elimination game.
In the elimination game, Butler would square off against Yavapai College (AZ) who had already defeated the No. 1-seeded Salt Lake squad.
It was a pitcher's duel for much of the game as both teams struggled to get anything going offensively. Yavapai took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second off an RBI from Megan Parsley. Butler wasted no time to tie the game up in the top of the third as Myah Johnson was able to score on an error by the Roughriders.
Butler took their first lead of the game in the top of the fourth after Ari Cordova grounded out but was able to knock in Emily Adler on the play giving Butler a 2-1 lead.
The Grizzlies extended that lead in the top of the sixth plating two more runs. Again, Ari Cordova grounded out but scored Madi Young, then Shayna Espy, who had rounded third after the out at first noticed the pitcher high fiving her teammates and took off for home and slid in safely catching the Roughriders defense off guard giving the Grizzlies a 4-1 advantage.
The Roughriders didn't back down and made it known they were not out of this game as they scored four runs off three hits in the bottom half to take a 5-4 lead. A single followed by a walk made way for Jocelyn Ulrich who hit a three-run homer to tie the game with no outs. A one out double placed a baserunner on second for Yavapai. Redman struck out the next batter for out two but a hit by pitch now put two on the base paths. A fly ball to center was dropped by Espy and Yavapai scored the go-ahead run. The Grizzlies did catch the other runner attempting to go home but the damage had been done as Yavapai led 5-4 going into the seventh.
Butler was unable to get anything rolling in the seventh as they flew out twice and had a strikeout in the top of the seventh that ended their season at midnight central time in heartbreaking fashion.
The Grizzlies ended the year 51-4 overall with a fifth-place National tournament finish. This marks the most wins in a season since the 2018 season where they went 53-6. Butler was a perfect 26-0 in KJCCC play this year winning their 10th consecutive KJCCC title. They also won their fifth Region VI Championship and 5th District Championship.
With the NJCAA exemption on seasons of eligibility, next season could be interesting with a number of players from this team returning in addition to the new faces that head coach Doug Chance and crew will bring aboard.
