Butler blasts Colby in pair of run-rule victories

Butler blasts Colby in pair of run-rule victories

The Butler softball team dominated yet another doubleheader, sweeping a pair of games from Colby in run-rule fashion on Friday at East Park. The Grizzlies won the first game 10-1 and the second game 9-1. Both games were called after five innings.

The Grizzlies hit five home runs in the two games, including two from Kaitlyn Wolken. She also drove in five runs to pace the Butler offensive attack. Meanwhile, the pitching staff combined to 20 Colby batters, allowing just four hits.

Butler is now 21-1 on the season. This is the fastest a Butler team has ever reached 20 wins in a season. The Grizzlies are also 4-0 in Jayhawk West Conference play and already have a one-game lead in the conference standings.

Butler will return to action quickly as the Grizzlies are scheduled to depart early Saturday morning for the Midwest Juco Classic, to be played tomorrow and Sunday in Bixby, Okla.

GAME 1

Butler hit one home run in each of the four innings it batted. Kaitlyn Wolken hit a two-run home run in the first inning. Alyssa Aguilar hit a three-run shot to center field in the second. Ashton Atwell hit a solo shot to lead off the third inning and Kate James hit along home run to left field in the fourth. 

Meanwhile, Butler pitcher Maggie Ham dominated Colby through the first two innings, striking out five Trojans. She earned the win, improving her record to 9-0 on the season. Kelsey Berlin came on in relief and threw two scoreless innings before giving up a run in the top of the fifth. She earns her first save of the year.

GAME 2

Butler was held in check offensively through the first two innings and the game was scoreless going to the bottom of the third. That's when Butler's bats exploded for nine runs.

Kelsey Berlin drove in four runs in the inning, getting two hits. Her second hit was a double that scored three runs. Kaitlyn Wolken also homored in the inning to drive in two, while Ashley Malone, Ashton Atwell and Alex Millspaugh also drove in runs.
 
In the circle, Mac Millspaugh was dominant. She threw three perfect innings to get the win, making her 8-0 on the season. Seven of her nine outs were strikeouts. Brittany Gustin threw the final two innings, allowing one run on two hits in the fifth inning.