Butler dropped the first game of the day but bounced back in a big way winning 12-11 over the Colby Trojans to keep the season alive and advancing to the Region VI Championship game on Saturday against the Cowley Tigers.
"The guys were disappointed after the loss but you could tell they didn't want the next one to be their last," said head coach BJ McVay. "They were hungry and ready to go."
Game one saw the Grizzlies and the Tigers in a pitching duel through the first four innings as Butler hung with the No. 5-ranked Cowley Tigers. The Grizzlies never trailed in the first four innings and seemed to have the momentum shifted to their side after going up 3-1 in the top of the 5th. However, after recording an early out, the Grizzlies would give up nine-runs in the bottom of the 5th giving the Tigers a 10-3, a lead that the Grizzlies wouldn't be able to crack. A dropped ball in the outfield allowed the Tigers to score the winning run and the Grizzlies were dispatched in run rule fashion 11-3 after seven innings.
Garrett DeHaas had a very good 4.1 innings as in that stretch he only allowed one run on three hits. However, the Tigers got to him late scoring five more runs off five hits before his day was officially finished.
Josh Cameron scored two of the Grizzlies three runs with a solo homerun and a sacrifice fly. Bryce Zimmerer drove in the other Butler run on an RBI single to center field that scored Jackson Syring.
With the game one loss, Butler was against the ropes with their season hanging in the balance yet again and would have to face the Colby Trojans, who defeated Kansas City Kansas 10-2 Thursday night to keep their season alive.
The Grizzlies quickly had a stiff task in front of them as they fell behind 6-0 after the first Trojan at bat. Colby came out swinging forcing starter Nate Adler to exit the game after recording just one out. Zach Nagel came in relief with one out in the inning. He gave up a run, but stopped the bleeding getting a fly out and a strike out to get back in the dugout.
Butler, in true Butler fashion had an answer in the bottom of the first. Jonah Cox started off the inning with a double followed by a Bryce Zimmerer single up the middle. Sam Siegel hit a single to right scoring Cox from second. Noah Argenta followed that up with a three-run homerun that went off the scoreboard in left field. Butler punched back and now trailed by two, 6-4 after the first and the Grizzlies got back the momentum.
Colby added to their lead with a solo homerun in the third, but the Grizzlies were not fazed. Bryce Zimmerer led off the inning with a double up the middle. A Sam Siegel single and a Noah Argenta walk loaded up the bases for Cache Stone. Stone hit an RBI single to climb back within two runs, 7-5. A Hunter Groh walk scored another run and a wild pitch allowed Noah Argenta to get home safely tying the game at 7-7. Jaren Jackson hit a sacrifice groundout scoring one more in the inning giving Butler their first lead of the game at 8-7.
Jonah Cox walked in the fourth and, with his aggressive baserunning, he stole second and then stole third. Colby tried to pick him off at third and the throw got away from the third baseman and Cox made his way home giving Butler a two-run lead, 9-7.
The Trojans tied the game up in the sixth and eventually took the 10-9 lead scoring three runs off four hits in the top half. It could have been more but Andrew Wisner, who came in relief of Nagel, forced a foul out the Siegel stranding the bases loaded.
Again, the Grizzlies responded scoring three in the bottom half to take back the lead, a lead they wouldn't let go again. Jackson Syring hit an RBI double scoring Zimmerer who was hit by the pitch in his at bat. Sam Siegel stepped up to the plate and hit a timely homerun scoring two giving Butler the two run 12-10 lead.
Colby hit a solo homer in the seventh but that would be the last of their offense as Andrew finished out the game facing just four batters in each of the final three innings.
"This team is never out of it," commented McVay. "Time and time again, when we need a big play to be made these guys find a way to do it."
Andrew Wisner picked up the win going 3.1 innings and giving up just one run off three hits, no walks and two strikeouts. Zach Nagel, typically a closer who throws one or two innings max, gave the Grizzlies 5.1 solid innings. He gave up five runs off eight hits, walking four and striking out five.
Sam Siegel was 3-3 in the game with three RBI's and three runs scored with a homerun. Noah Argenta also drove in three runs finishing 2-4 at the plate with two runs and a homerun. Jonah Cox was 2-4, both hits being doubles and had two stolen bags in the game. Brice Zimmerer went 2-3 with a double, a stolen base and three runs scored.
"This team just doesn't know how to quit," said freshman short stop Jonah Cox. "We have been down in games this season and it doesn't faze us because we know what we can do when we get to swinging it."
Butler will face the No. 5-ranked Cowley Tigers in the Region VI Championship on Saturday, May 22 with a 1:00pm first pitch from Dean Evans Stadium in Salina, KS. Butler will need to defeat the Tigers twice to advance to the NJCAA World Series.
