The Butler softball team put up 36 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Garden City, beating the Broncbusters 10-1 and 26-2 on Satuday at East Park.
The 26 runs in a game is the second most for a Doug Chance squad, second only to a 30-6 win over Allen County in 2005. It is the second time this season Butler has scored more than 20 runs in a game. Butler also beat Clarendon 21-0 on Feb. 20 in Fort Worth.
With the wins, sixth-ranked Butler improves to 18-4 on the season and is 3-1 in Jayhawk Conference play. The Grizzlies are scheduled to play again at home on Monday against Northern Oklahoma.
GAME 1 - Butler 10, Garden City 1
Morgan Heckart hit two home runs and drove in four runs to lead the Butler offensive attack. Raven Bass went 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring three runs and driving in three more. Brynn Minor and Morgan Bohanan also had two hits apiece.
In the circle, Regan Mergele threw the first four innings, allowing one run. She earned the win, improving to 9-3 on the season. Brynn Minor threw the final inning, striking out two and retiring all three batters she faced.
GAME 2 - Butler 26, Garden City 2
Butler scored four runs in each of the first two innings, then added nine more in the third and another nine in the fourth. The Grizzlies set season-highs in runs (26) and hits (22) in the victory.
Amelia Cutchlow hit her second grand slam home run this season, while Morgan Bohanan and Haylee Lorenz also homered. Becca Schulte was 5-for-5 at the plate with four RBI.
Jennifer Hittinger got the start and the win, allowing just four hits through three innings while striking out three. She improves to 7-1 on the year. Kaelah McMullin made her first appearance of the season, allowing one run in one inning of work, while Taylor Zanca threw a scoreless top of the fifth to close out the contest.
