GREAT BEND, Kan. – Butler softball secured two wins over third place Barton at Cougar Field on Wednesday afternoon,
The Grizzlies (28-6, 16-2 KJCCC) earned two important wins over the Cougars (16-14, 13-7) after the two teams split a pair in El Dorado earlier in the season. Butler remains tied atop the league standings with Hutchinson.
The Grizzlies will play at Seward on Friday in a doubleheader with first pitch at 2 p.m.
Game 1: Butler 16, Barton 5
Game one was close until the Grizzlies exploded for eight runs in the seventh inning, ultimately winning 16-5.
The Grizzlies finished with 20 hits in the game led by Chloe Cardona and Cady Dickey who both had four hits. Alivia Darbe drove in a team-high three runs while Caylee Mann had two hits and three RBI.
Butler led 2-1 after the first inning as Cardona and Dickey each drove in runs. The second inning was scoreless for both squads before the Grizzlies plated four in the third to take a 6-1 lead. They built an 8-1 lead heading into the seventh before exploding for eight in the seventh.
Cheyenne Handsaker (W, 12-2) picked up the win, tossing 4.2 innings allowing just one run on three hits and striking out five. Addy Ewing threw 1.1 scoreless innings in relief and Lena Walter threw the seventh.
Offensively, Barton was led by Aly Lawrence who had two hits and three RBI.
Brooklyn Angielski (L, 6-6) got the start in the circle and was hit with the loss after throwing 4.0 innings allowing six runs.
Game 2: Butler 12, Barton 8 (8 inn.)
Game two saw Butler outscore Barton 5-1 in the eighth inning to grab the extra inning win.
The Grizzlies once again were hot at the plate with 16 hits. They had three innings of 3+ runs including the five run eighth.
Kyrsten Moran and Cady Dickey were both 3-5 with Dickey finishing with three RBI.
The Grizzlies used three pitchers in the game with Chloe Odle getting the start and throwing 3.0 innings allowing four runs (two earned). Handsaker appeared in relief of Odle for the next 3.0 innings, allowing three runs on three hits. Addy Ewing (W, 7-0) tossed the final 2.0 innings and picked up the win allowing a lone run on three hits.
The eighth inning saw Dickey, Aly Hageman, Kory Schoenfeld and Darbe each drive in runs to put up a five spot.
Butler is now 4-0 in extra inning games this season.
