Butler repeats as DI Softball Champions
The Grizzlies defeated Salt Lake 11-7 to win 2017 DI Softball title
CHAMPIONSHIP HOME | RESULTS | TOURNAMENT AWARDS
ST. GEORGE, UT – Butler (KS) outlasted Salt Lake (UT) 11-7 to tally the 2017 NJCAA Division I Softball Championship Saturday at Cayons Complex in St. George, Utah. With the win, the Grizzlies finish as back-to-back champions and with a record of 58-1, while the runner-up Bruins dropped to 51-8.
In the top of the first stanza, Butler jumped out to an early advantage knocking in two runs, but Salt Lake responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to finish the first frame with a 3-2 lead. The Grizzlies swung the momentum back in their favor by countering with three runs in the second inning to lead 5-3.
Salt Lake added a score to cut the deficit 5-4, but the Grizzlies accumulated three more runs to extend the lead 8-4. The Bruins once again responded, as they tallied three runs in the fifth inning too to trail 8-7 heading into the sixth inning. Butler though had one more scoring outburst in their pocket and punched in three more runs to pull away from Salt Lake and clinch its second softball championship in program history.
- Brynn Minor of Butler notched three home runs and a contest high seven runs knocked in. Minor finished the tournament with eight total RBIs.
- Tournament MVP and Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Grizzlies Becca Schulte capped the championship season off with 10 RBIs and four home runs in the tournament.
- Butler’s average winning margin in four tournament games played was 7.8 runs.
- The Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Tournament went to Regan Mergele. Mergele tallied three of Butler’s four wins, which included a complete game shutout versus Central Arizona.
Photos courtesy of
Butler wins it! 11-7 National Champions #njcaafastpitch pic.twitter.com/WxuAenhyF8
— NJCAA TV (@NJCAATV) May 20, 2017