EMPORIA, Kan. – The Butler baseball team dropped a one-run game for the second time this season, falling 7-6 at Emporia State JV in 11 innings on Wednesday at Trusler Complex.
The Grizzlies jumped out to a 2-0 lead early, scoring twice in the top of the first inning. Levi Parker walked and scored on a triple to right center by Ty Moore. Moments later, Brandon Taylor singled to score Moore.
Starting pitcher Brad Day cruised through the first inning, but allowed a single and two walks to load the bases in the second inning. Emporia State took advantage, eventually four runs to take a 4-2 lead.
Butler responded quickly in the next half-inning. Levi Parker walked and scored when Ty Moore reached on an error. Moore scored again, this time on an RBI double by Brandon Taylor. Taylor then scored himself on a wild pitch, giving Butler a 5-4 lead.
Emporia would tie the game in the bottom of the third on an RBI groundout.
The game would stay tied 5-5 for the next seven innings. Travis Hendry threw two scoreless innings, Kyle Vogt threw a scoreless inning and Trever Ezell threw two scoreless innings as the game stretched into extra innings.
Butler would be the next team to score, getting a run in the top of the 11th when a Logan Beard single allowed Dalton Wheat to cross the plate.
Ezell went out for his third inning of work in the bottom of the 11th to try to close the game. Emporia State, however, would load the bases, then scored one run on an RBI single and the game-winning run on a Butler fielding error.
Levi Parker, Ty Moore, Brandon Taylor and Dalton Wheat all had multiple hit games with two apiece. Taylor also drove in two in his first collegiate game. Moore has had two hits and driven in at least one run in all three games this season, giving him six hits and a team-high seven RBI.
Ezell takes the loss for the Grizzlies, dropping his record to 0-1 on the season, despite having allowed just one earned run in his three innings of work.
Butler is now 1-2 on the season. The Grizzlies have had their schedule changed considerably to accommodate ongoing renovations at McDonald Stadium due to the installation of new artificial turf.
The Grizzlies are now schedule to play on the road at Northern Oklahoma-Enid on Tuesday the 19th, instead of playing their home opener that day. The new date for the home opener is Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. against Independence.
