It was a dominating day at the ballpark for the Butler Grizzlies as they opened up the season with a sweep of a doubleheader against Northwest Oklahoma State's JV team in Alva, Oklahoma on Thursday, winning game one 14-3 and finishing off game two with a 15-4 score line.
Game One
The Grizzlies used a six run second inning to propel themselves to the first win of the season, led offensively by Bryce Zimmerer's four RBIs, followed by Zach Stroh who put three runs across the plate. Jackson Syring and Zack Brink hit the first two home runs of the season, as Butler totaled 14 runs on 10 hits while leaving just one man on base. It was a team effort on the mound for the Grizzlies as Butler used four pitchers who gave up just three runs on eight hits, and totaling nine strikeout victims. Izack Tiger claimed the win, giving up two hits and no runs and striking out six of the eight batters he faced in just two innings of work.
Game Two
The Grizzlies were just as dominant in game two, scoring 11 runs in the second inning. Eight of the 12 Butler players who made plate appearances registered at least one hit, led by Zimmerer and Sam Siegel who both had three. Siegel found the gaps for three doubles while Brock Lummus hit his first home run of the season as Butler combined for 15 runs on 16 hits and 14 RBIs.
Tanner Leslie got the win in his first start as he pitched two innings and gave up just one earned run on one hit. Butler used five pitchers giving up five runs on just four hits.
Butler is now 2-0 to open the season, and they'll head to the JUCO Spring Festival in Edmond, Oklahoma for three games this weekend, starting with a Friday double header vs Seminole State and Coffeyville, before finishing on Saturday with a game against Northern Oklahoma-Enid.
