Butler Softball Mashes 7 Home Runs in Doubleheader Sweep of Labette

EL DORADO, Kan. – The 14th ranked Butler softball squad earned two wins over Labette Community College on Thursday afternoon at East Park.

Butler (6-0) snagged the sweep on their home opener as they scored double digit runs in both contests with the Cardinals (1-3), winning 11-4 in game one and 13-5 in game two. The Butler offense hit seven home runs on the afternoon across the two games with four different players getting in on the action.

Sophomore Chloe Odle (W, 2-0) threw a complete game striking out 12 and allowing two earned runs as the Grizzlies won 11-4 in the first game of the day. Labette struck first with a run in the top of the first but the Grizzlies quickly answered with a five spot in the bottom half as sophomores Kim Yepez and Kylie Forney each homered with Yepez hitting her fourth of the season, a three run shot and Forney her second on the year, a two run home run. Labette again added a run in the second inning to make it 5-2. The Grizzlies scored five unanswered runs to take a 10-2 lead in the fourth capped by Forney's second home run of the game. Labette hit a long ball of their own as Jaden Jordan snuck one inside the left foul pole, a two-run shot, to make it 10-4 in the fifth. A Forney sacrifice fly in the sixth was the last scoring of the game.

The Grizzlies hit four more home runs in game two on the way to a 13-5 run rule win in five innings. Forney hit her third of the day while freshman Karson Holson sent two over the outfield wall in the game and freshman Emillee Stofferahn hit her first collegiate home run as well. Sophomores Claire Lopez, Forney and Holson each drove in three runs while sophomore Kyrsten Moran scored three runs and walked twice. Sophomore pitcher Addy Ewing (W, 2-0) picked up the win in the circle tossing 2.1 innings allowing two runs on three hits, striking out three and walking one. She came in relief of freshman Ellie Randall who started and threw 2.2 innings allowing two earned runs on two hits. The Grizzlies scored six runs in the first inning as Lopez hit an RBI triple, later scored on a wild pitch and Forney and Holson each homered. Labette used three runs in the third and two in the fifth to get on the board but could not stop the Butler offense. The Cardinals were led by Brookelyn Barnett's two RBI. Lily Beery tossed 4.1 innings in relief allowing six earned runs on 10 hits.

TOP PERFORMERS GAME 1:

Kylie Forney (Andover, KS): 2-2, 5 RBI, 2 HR, 2 R

Kim Yepez (Round Rock, TX): 2-2, 3 RBI, HR, 2 BB

Chloe Cardona (Fort Worth, TX): 2-4, 2 R, 2B

Chloe Odle (Beloit, KS): 7.0 IP, 12 K's, 4 BB, 2 ER, 8 H

TOP PERFORMERS GAME 2:

Claire Lopez (Olathe, KS): 3-4, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 2B's, 3B

Karson Holson (Owasso, OK): 2-3, 3 RBI, 2 HR, 2 R

Kylie Forney (Andover, KS): 1-3, 3 RBI, HR

Kyrsten Moran (Little Elm, TX): 1-2, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 SB

UP NEXT:

Butler opens conference play on Wednesday, March 5th, hosting Hutchinson at East Park in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.