FORT WORTH, Texas - The Butler softball team rolled to five wins this weekend at the Cowtown Classic at Gateway Park.
The Grizzlies won three games on Friday and two more on Saturday, with a combined score of 56-4, which means Butler scored more than 11 runs per game and allowed an average of less than a run per game with two shut outs.
Butler defeated Central Nebraska and four teams from Texas (Ranger, Vernon, Clarendon and North Central Texas).
The Grizzlies are now 13-3 on the season and will play their home opener on Tuesday, playing a doubleheader against Friends JV, starting at 2:30 p.m. at East Park.
Butler 11, Central Nebraska 1 (5 innings)
Brynn Minor started in the circle and retired all nine batters she faved through the first three innings. Taylor Zanca thrw the final two innings in relief.
The Butler offense wasted no time I getting going. The Grizzlies scored four times in the first inning and once in the second to lead 5-0.
Later in the game, Butler flexed its muscle with three home runs - one each from Mikayla Waggoner, Amelia Cutchlow and Drea Lesure, ending the game early due to run rule.
Butler 11, Ranger 2 (6 innings)
Butler got going early again, this time with a two-run home run by Brynn Minor in the top of the first.
Alexis Clinton drove in two runs with a single in the fifth and Raven Bass hit a bases-loaded double in the sixth to drive in three more runs.
Starting pitcher Regan Mergele shut down the high-powered Ranger offense, surrendering only a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
Butler 5, Vernon 0
The closes game of the weekend was highlighted by a complete-game shut out by Jennifer Hittinger, who allowed three hits and three walks while striking out five.
Butler scored quickly, as Alexis Clinton singled and scored on a double by Megan Wurts. Wurts finished the game with three hits in as many at-bats, with two runs scored and twi runs driven in. Morgan Bohanan and Raven Bass also drove in runs.
Butler 21, Clarendon 0 (5 innings)
Butler scored 10 runs in the first inning on its way to its highest-scoring game since beating Garden City 22-8 on April 21, 2014.
Alexis Clinton led off the game with a home run, one of her two hits in the first inning. Morgan Bohanan also had two hits in the inning.
Taylor Zanca hit a solo home run in the second and Amelia Cutchlow hit a grand slam in the third inning.
Jenny Hittinger threw her second shutout of the weekend, scattering five hits in five innings of work, striking out three.
Butler 8, North Central Texas 1
Butler earned its second win over North Central Texas this season. The Grizzlies scored four runs in the top of the first inning, with two runs coming on a triple by Becca Schulte.
Schulte knocked in three runs in the game, while Morgan Bohanan drove in two.
In the circle, Regan Mergele improved to 7-2 in the season, allowing just one unearned run in seven innings of work, while striking out six.