No. 3 Chipola College 9, No. 2 Salt Lake Community College 7
Chipola used a late, five-run rally in the top of the seventh to come from behind and post a 9-7 victory in Game 29 of the NJCAA National Softball Championship on Saturday to advance to the championship game.
Lauryn Goaslind opened the scoring for Salt Lake, knocking a three-run home run over the left field wall in the first inning to put the Bruins up 3-0. Chipola matched the total with three runs on four hits in the top of the third, tying the game at 3-3. However, the deadlock didn’t last long when a Chipola wild pitch in the bottom of the inning led to a Salt Lake run and put the Bruins up 4-3.
Salt Lake plated three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning behind another home run, this time off the bat of Rae Gall. Chipola came back with a run in the top of the fifth, scoring on a double steal and making the score 7-4.
The Salt Lake margin held until Chipola put together a five-run rally in the top of the seventh to come from behind for the 9-7 advantage. Chipola used five hits, including four straight singles to begin the frame and then allowed just two Salt Lake base runners in the bottom of the inning to secure the victory.
No.4 Butler Community College 4, No. 3 Chipola College 2
Butler advanced through the 2016 NJCAA National Softball Championship undefeated and captured the trophy with a 4-2 victory over defending national champion Chipola on Saturday afternoon in St. George, Utah.
Chipola put the first lights on the board with a solo home run off the bat of Madison Ragan in the first and then added a second run in the third as Ashley Morris got on base with a triple and later scored.
Butler chipped away with a run in the fourth as Megan Wurtz led off the inning with a single and later came around to score. Wurtz also had a hand in three more runs for Butler in the bottom of the third as her single cleared the bases and gave the Grizzlies a 4-2 lead.
Brynn Minor came on in relief for the Grizzlies in the final inning and struck out two and induced a pop up for the final out of the game to seal the championship for the Grizzlies.
2016 NJCAA National Softball Championship Individual Award Winners
Outstanding Offensive Player
Rylee Bayless, NE Oklahoma A&M
Outstanding Defensive Player
Nicole Matta, Yavapai
Outstanding Pitcher
Courtney Gettins, Florida SouthWestern State
Coach of the Tournament
Doug Change, Butler
All-Tournament Team
Rylee Bayless, NEO
Ashley Morris, Chipola
Karly Bunderson, Salt Lake
Becca Schulte, Butler
Tanna Huie, Tyler
Tina Ford, Salt Lake
Gabriela Santos, Chipola
Morgan Heckart, Butler
Brynn Minor, Butler
Ilona Andringa, Chipola
Kylie Everill, Salt Lake
Lauryn Goaslind, Salt Lake
Madison Ragan, Chipola
Tournament MVP
Jennifer Hittinger, Butler
Kyle Cottam is the assistant athletic director for Media Relations at Utah State University.