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St. George • For the first time in the NJCAA World Series, the Butler Grizzlies were actually behind on the scoreboard after a completed inning.

One big swing at the right time helped push the Kansas school back to the top of the junior-college softball ranks.

Brynn Minor hit the first of her three home runs in the second inning to put Butler back in front, and she got the final seven outs in relief from the circle to help the Grizzlies beat Salt Lake Community College 11-7 on a warm Saturday afternoon at the Canyons Complex.

"We didn't abandon our approach," said Butler coach Doug Chance, who guided his team to a 58-1 overall record and second straight national title. "The middle of our lineup has come through all year long."

After Butler scored twice in the top of the first, the No. 2-seeded Bruins responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, including two on a single from catcher Laina SueSue.

Salt Lake starting pitcher Addie Jensen got the first two hitters out in the top of the second, but hit Kenzie Young with a pitch to keep the inning alive. Becca Schulte singled to put two runners on before Minor stepped to the plate and took a Jensen pitch well over the fence in left field for a 5-3 lead.

Minor would add a leadoff homer in a three-run fifth inning and her two-run homer in the sixth completed the scoring. When she caught Madison Sisco's popup in front of the circle for the final out, the hugs, shouts of joy and celebration began.

"It gave us some momentum," Minor said of her first home run. "It gave us that push to know that we could to this. It's definitely special for all the sophomores to go out with another national championship."

For Bruins head coach Cyndee Bennett, Minor's bat and arm spoiled the best tip she received for how to get past the Grizzlies in the Bruins' first title game appearance since 2013.

"The advice we got was to keep the ball in the park and we'd have a chance," Bennett said. "We did it yesterday [a 9-3 loss to Butler], but not today."

Salt Lake scored once in the third on a sacrifice fly from Ashlee Snyder and she added a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth that closed the gap to a run at 8-7, but it would be the last Bruins hit of the championship game.

Behind the pitching of Utah commit Chantelle Ladner, the Bruins stayed alive in the earlier game Saturday morning with a 3-1 win over Florida Southwestern. Ladner retired the first 10 batters she faced and worked out of two jams in the late innings to secure the win.

Snyder hit a solo home run to start the scoring for SLCC in the second inning, and Alex Valencia hit a two-run shot in the fourth. NJCAA World Series

Saturday's scores

Salt Lake 3, Florida Southwestern 1

Butler 11, Salt Lake 7

At A Glance

• Butler finished the year with a 58-1 record and a second straight NJCAA softball championship. Salt Lake finished 51-8.

• The Grizzlies fell behind after the first inning of the title game, the only time that happened in the tournament.

• Butler's Becca Schulte was named Most Valuable Player and four Bruins – Chantelle Ladner, Laina SueSue, Alex Valencia and Lauren Tycksen – were named to the all-tournament team.