Split With Dodge City Salvages Series for Grizzlies

EL DORADO, Kan. – A dominant game four win helped Butler baseball avoid a four game sweep at the hands of the Dodge City Conquistadors on Sunday afternoon at McDonald Stadium.

Butler (28-23, 17-11 KJCCC) dropped game three 6-5 to the Conqs (33-19, 17-11) before winning big in game two, 17-2.

The Grizzlies are set to close the regular season out with a conference series vs. Cloud County that starts on Thursday at McDonald Stadium.

Game 1: Dodge City 6, Butler 5

Three late runs from the Conquistadors in the sixth inning proved to be the deciding factor as Butler dropped it 6-5.

Dodge City got out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run from Carter Olson.

The Grizzlies responded with a four spot in the second, taking a 4-2 lead. Cole Murrell got the scoring started with an RBI double down the right field line that scored Taber Stokes. Brock Toothaker singled up the middle to score Murrell to make it 2-0 and then Jaron Brown ripped his fifth home run of the season, a two-run home run to center field, to make it 4-2.

Each team plated a run in the third. Dodge's Juan Rivera hit a solo home run in the top half and an Anibal Rivera infield single scored CJ Reid in the bottom half making it 5-3.

The sixth inning saw Dodge plate three runs as Max Towchik hit a two-run home run and Andrew Detlefsen singled through the left side.

Butler threatened in the seventh with one out and two runners on, but a double play ended the game.

Kage Ralstin (L, 0-2) was tagged with the loss for Butler allowing a run in his 2.0 relief innings. Bradyn McClure started for Butler and threw 5.0 innings allowing five runs on eight hits, striking out two and walking none.

Reid led the Grizzlies with two hits while Brown drove in two runs. Brian Hallum (W, 8-2) threw 6.1 innings for the Conqs allowing five runs on seven hits, striking out six.

Game 2: Butler 17, Dodge City 2

Butler plated 17 runs on 12 hits in game four on the way to a 17-2 win.

Dodge City used seven pitchers in the game and all but one allowed a run. Caden Hinther (W, 3-2) earned the win for Butler throwing 5.0 innings allowing no earned runs.

Charlie Marcantel, Jordan Hedrick and Brock Toothaker each led the Grizzlies with two hits. Marcantel and Anibal Rivera each drove in a team-high three runs.

Butler plated three runs in the first, five in the second, two in the third and six in the fifth.