Butler to Meet Top Seed Florida Southwestern in 3rd Round of World Series Wednesday

What: Butler Softball vs. Florida Southwestern in the NJCAA Softball Division 1 World Series Third Round.

When: Wednesday, May 21, at 1:30 p.m. MST / 3:30 p.m. CST

Venue: Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex | Yuma, Arizona

Streaming: ESPN+

Live Stats: Linked on the softball schedule page of ButlerGrizzlies.com

Live Audio: BCTV's Matt Jacobs will have the audio only call on the BCTV+ mobile app or at ButlerGrizzlies.com/WatchLive

Bracket: Click here to view the bracket.

Schedule/Scores: Click here to keep up with all games at the NJCAA D1 World Series.

The ninth seeded Butler Community College softball program is set to take on the No. 1 overall seed Florida Southwestern Buccaneers on Wednesday afternoon in the third round of the NJCAA Softball Division 1 World Series.

FOLLOW ALONG

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FIRST TIME OUT IN YUMA (BUTLER)

The Grizzlies defeated eight seed Paris 3-0 in their first tournament action on Monday afternoon. Freshman pitcher Ellie Randall threw a complete game shutout, her seventh complete game of the season, holding Paris (50-10) scoreless for the first time this season in her 7.0 innings of work. Randall held Paris, the nation's leading home run hitting team, (103 entering Monday's game), to four hits which is also a season-low. Read the full recap here.

FIRST TIME OUT IN YUMA (FSW)

The top seeded Bucs used a big comeback to skate by 17-seed Crowder, 11-8, in their tournament opener on Tuesday afternoon. FSW fell behind Crowder 5-0 in the first inning and later 7-0 in the fourth before outscoring Crowder 11-1 to close out the game. Read the full recap here.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The winner of Wednesday's game pushes on to a fourth-round matchup between the winner of Chipola and Navarro on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. MST. The loser between Butler/FSW turns around and plays again on Wednesday in an elimination game at 6 p.m. MST vs. the winner of McCook and Trinity Valley earlier in the day.

MATCHUP INFO

• 9-seed Butler (45-7) vs. 1-seed Florida Southwestern (53-5). Both teams 1-0 in the World Series.
• The two teams have not played a common opponent this season.
• Both teams dropped consecutive games just once all season.
• Butler is 2-1 all-time vs. FSW with all three games coming in the NJCAA D1 World Series.
  • W, 5-4 (15 inn.) in 2016
  • W, 4-2 in 2018
  • L, 2-1 in 2021
• The two teams have combined for five national championships.
  • Butler (2016, 2017)
  • FSW (2021, 2022, 2023)

LOOKING AT FSW

• The Bucs (53-5) have won 14 consecutive games.
• FSW was ranked inside the top-five for the entire season and ended the regular season at No. 1 nationally.
• It is FSW's eighth trip in nine seasons to the NJCAA World Series.
• Freshman outfielder Noelani Livingstone leads FSW with 81 hits, 31 stolen bases, five triples and a .440 average this season.
• Sophomore outfielder Sklar Brennan paces the Bucs with 18 doubles and seven home runs.
• Sophomore first baseman Virginia Mambelli has driven in a team-high 53 runs with 15 doubles and six home runs.
• FSW has a team ERA under 2.00 with six of seven pitchers holding an ERA under 2.00.
• Sophomore RHP Leah Meyer leads FSW with 131.0 innings thrown holding an 18-1 record with 14 complete games, a 1.92 ERA and 112 strikeouts to 52 walks.
• Freshman RHP Lizzy Kwakernaak has tossed 98.2 innings holding a 16-2 record, striking out 100 compared to 42 walks with a 1.84 ERA.

LOOKING AT BUTLER

• Butler has won six consecutive games and 31 of their last 33.
• The Grizzlies are making the program's 14th appearance in the NJCAA Division 1 World Series.
• Butler has appeared in 14 of the last 18 NJCAA Division 1 World Series.
• The Grizzlies have been ranked in the NJCAA top-20 in every poll dating back to April 22, 2015. They ended the 2025 regular season at No. 16.
• Sophomore infielder Claire Lopez paces Butler with 87 hits, a .494 batting average and 56 stolen bases.
• Freshman catcher Jenna Jobe is tied for the second most hits with 61 with 17 doubles and seven home runs while holding a .421 average.
• Sophomore utility player Kylie Forney leads Butler with 33 extra base hits (18 doubles and 14 home runs).
• Sophomore infielder Kim Yepez paces Butler with 69 runs driven in and 17 home runs.
• Freshman LHP Ellie Randall has been Butler's workhorse throwing a team-high 110.2 innings (17-2 record) making 24 starts as her 2.40 ERA also leads the way for Butler. Randall has allowed just four home runs across 490 batters faced.
• Sophomore RHP Addy Ewing ranks tied for third nationally with six saves while also holding a 7-1 record and 3.11 ERA in 69.2 innings of work.
• Sophomore RHP Chloe Odle leads the team with 97 strikeouts (49 walks) while holding a 12-3 record and a 3.44 ERA.

BUTLER TEAM STATS IN THE TOP-10 (NJCAA D1)

• Turned the second most double plays (17)
• Have the third best OBP (.478)
• Fielding at the fourth best clip (.963)
• Fifth best batting average (.393)
• Scored the sixth most runs (535)
• Slugging the sixth best (.652)
• Have the sixth most pitching saves (7)
• Have hit the seventh most doubles (131)
• Stolen the seventh most bases (181)
• Have the ninth most extra base hits (222)
• Ninth most RBI (475)
• Smashed the 10th most home runs (72)

FSW TEAM STATS IN THE TOP-10 (NJCAA D1)

• Lead the country in RCS% (.213)
• Caught the second most runners stealing (13)
• Sixth best ERA (1.75)
• Eighth most strikeouts (343)
• Ninth fewest home runs allowed (8)
• Ninth best WHIP (1.10)
• 10th best earned runs allowed (94)

TEAM COMPARISON (HITTING/BASE RUNNING)

TEAM COMPARISON (PITCHING)

TEAM COMPARISON (DEFENSE)