The Butler Grizzlies traveled to Garden City Thursday and run ruled the Broncbusters 13-2 in game one before taking game two 10-3.
Game 1
Izack Tiger pitched a complete game in the run-rule game one victory, throwing five innings and facing 23 batters giving up two runs on three hits and striking out an incredible eleven batters. Tiger came into the game with 179 strikeouts, needing seven to break the school strikeout record of 185 set in 1990 by Craig Bradshaw. Tiger struck out eight batters through the first three innings to claim the new school record that he will continue to grow this season. Tiger moves to 5-4 on the season.
Offensively the Grizzlies were hot in game one as Brock Kuehler put Butler on the scoreboard with his first homerun of the day, a solo shot in the second inning that put the Grizzlies up 1-0. Alan Benhardt had a two RBI double in the third that brought in Hayden Dyer and Justin Hudson, followed by a Brock Lummus homerun that brought in Benhardt giving the Grizzlies a 5-0 lead through three innings. The Grizzlies would then take a 9-0 lead in the fourth inning as Dyer would bring in Garret Fager and Hudson brought in Josh Holmes before Lummus would again add to the damage driving three Butler batters across the plate. The Broncbusters showed a fight as they scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Butler finished things off with four more runs in the top of the fifth to clench the run-rule victory.
Game 2
It was a home run scoring fest in game two, kicked off by Justin Hudson with a two-run bomb to put the Grizzlies up 2-0 in the top of the first inning. Brock Kuehler sent his second homer of the day over the fence in the top of the second inning, a solo-shot putting the Grizzlies up 3-0. And he did it a third and final time in the top of the third, this homerun a deep two RBI bomb to center field. The Grizzlies held a 6-0 lead before allowing three Broncbuster runs to score, but were able to hold them there, as Butler took home a 10-3 nine inning victory.
Caden Kickhaefer will claim the win for the Grizzlies bringing his record to 6-1 this season. Kickhaefer faced 23 batters through five innings of work, giving up three runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Zach Brink joined the action with three innings of relief, facing twelve batters giving up no runs on two hits and striking out five Broncbuster batters. Blake Werry came in to close, pitching one inning giving up no runs, and no hits with one strikeout.
Butler Baseball advances to 21-14 this season, 8-6 in conference as they prepare for a five game homestand, beginning with the rest of the Garden City series in a 1 and 3 p.m. double header Saturday.
