3A Softball: University Dethrones Eaton for Second State Title

AURORA – Facing the three-time defending state champion, the University softball team didn’t back down.

In a game that came down to the wire, it was the Bulldogs that finally prevailed, in walk-off fashion, nonetheless, to capture its second-ever state title.

At Aurora Sports Park on Saturday, the game looked to be headed into extra innings, as the score was knotted at 4 all. But, Jasi Cole stepped up to the plate and knocked in the winning run at the bottom of the inning with a single, lifting top-seeded University to its second-ever softball state title and a 5-4 victory over No. 2 Eaton. 

“We knew we had to play solid defense and hit like they do,” University head coach Chris Hutton said. “We’ve got to fire on all cylinders and that’s how we roll. They’ve been playing tough defense all year and it came down to that, and a solid showing at the plate.

“We took advantage of their errors and we played as a family.”

Eaton was the first to get on the board, scoring two runs on Johanna Galvan’s homerun in the first inning. University equalized the score in the bottom of the third when Sydney Goetzel doubled, scoring two runs. The Bulldogs then took its first lead later in the inning, as Cole’s sacrifice fly scored one run. 

Another two runs from Eaton in the sixth put the Reds back in front, but University had a quick answer, scoring in the bottom of the inning. 

The Bulldogs reached the championship game by defeating No. 5 Wellington, 6-3, in the semifinals. University had sailed into the semifinals with Friday wins over No. 16 Weld Central (12-0) and No. 9 The Classical Academy (11-1). 

Eaton beat No. 15 seed Sterling 15-0 in the first round and then edged No. 10 Lyons 4-3 in the quarterfinals. The Reds won 8-2 over No. 6 Brush in the semifinals in order to reach the finals.Eaton took an early 2-0 in the first inning. University reclaimed the lead with a three-run third. Eaton retook the lead with a two-run sixth before University scored single runs in both the sixth and seventh to retake the lead for good.

University’s only softball title came in 2019.