Softball falls twice at NJCAA Division I World Series

The Butler softball team saw its season come to an end on Thursday at the NJCAA Division I National Softball Tournament in St. George, Utah.

In the first game, Butler held a lead until the sixth inning, when No. 4 Pima (AZ) scored five runs and would go on to win 7-4.

In the second game, Butler fell behind Temple (TX) 4-0 early and never could catch up in a 7-2 loss.

Butler finishes the season with a 39-18 record. The Grizzlies repeated as Jayhawk West Conference and Region VI champions, qualifying for the national tournament for the second straight year.

PIMA 7, BUTLER 4

Pima scored first in the bottom of the first inning, but the Grizzlies answered with two runs in the top of the second. The first came on an RBI single by Kelci Garza and the second on an error on a ball hit by Heather Ryder.

Pima would tie the game in the bottom of the second and the score remained 2-2 until the fifth inning when Kelsey Berlin singled to right field to score pinch runner Kaitlyn Buck, giving the Grizzlies the lead.

That advantage held up until the bottom of the sixth inning when Pima flexed its muscle with a three-run home run by Alejandra Ortiz. Pima would score two more runs to take a 7-4 lead.

Butler scored one run in the top of the seventh on another RBI hit by Kelsey Berlin, but the Grizzlies could not close the gap.

Mac Millspaugh took the loss, allowing all seven runs. Heather Ryder recorded the final out of the sixth inning in relief.

TEMPLE 7, BUTLER 2 

Temple jumped on the Grizzlies early, scoring three runs in the first inning and another run in the second to lead 4-0.

Butler got back in the game in the third inning when Kelci Garza hit a solo home run and Domi O'Nelio scored on a balk.

The Grizzlies, though, could not hold Temple at bay offensively, despite throwing all three pitchers in the contest.

Kelsey Berlin had two more hits in the game, giving her four hits for the day. Berlin and Garza each drove in two runs at the national tournament.