The Butler softball team split a doubleheader with Seward County on Wednesday at East Park, moving closer to securing the Jayhawk West Conference title while at the same time ending several impressive winning streaks for the nation's top-ranked team.
The Grizzlies won the first game 10-2 in just six innings, erupting for six runs in the sixth to force the early ending due to run rule. In the second game, however, the Grizzlies were stymied offensively and committed five errors defensively in a 7-1 loss.
The loss ends Butler's 15-game winning streak this season and snaps an 11-game winning streak against Seward dating back to 2012. It is also Butler's first conference loss in its last 29 conference games and the first time in 22 tries that the Grizzlies have beaten at home, two years and a day since a loss to Crowder at East Park on April 1, 2012.
Still, Butler improves to 19-4 overall and is 5-1 in Jayhawk West play. The Grizzlies are two games ahead of Seward in the loss column with 10 conference games to play and no further head-to-head meetings.
GAME 1 – Butler 10, Seward 2 (six innings)
Seward took a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a two-run homer by Pokey Ewell off of Butler pitcher Sydnee Eck, but it would be the only two runs Eck would surrender. She finished the game with eight strikeouts in six innings, allowing five hits.
Meanwhile, Butler went to work offensively starting in the bottom of the third when A'Liyah Rogers beat out an infield single with two outs, allowing Aujanae McCoy to score from third.
Butler then scored two run in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Kate James drove in Sydnee Eck with a single up the middle to tie the game and later scored herself when Monica Islava reached on error by the Seward second baseman.
The Grizzlies loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth but would only get one run, that coming when Joselynn Dean hit into a fielder's choice.
Butler put the game away in the bottom of the sixth, scoring six times. Jillian Navarrete, Alyson Bressie and Samantha Reiss drove in runs to make it 7-2, then Sydnee Eck singled to drive in two more to make it 9-2. Butler loaded the bases again and Monica Islava drew a walk, forcing the game-ending run across the plate.
GAME 2 – Seward 7, Butler 1
Seward set the tone early with three straight doubles to start the game against Butler pitcher Jayden Hansen, taking a 2-0 lead.
The Saints then took advantage of Butler's defensive miscues. A walk, a hit batter and two consecutive errors led to two runs in the top of the third.
Another error in the top of the fourth set the stage for a two-run triple down the right-field line for Seward's Becky Allen, making the score 6-0.
Butler got one of the two runs back with a solo home run by Ashton Atwell in the bottom of the fourth, but a Butler error in the top of the seventh allowed one more Seward run to score and the Grizzlies could not answer in the bottom of the inning, ending the game.