Story by Wyatt Ebersole

WICHITA, Kan -- Less than 24 hours removed from a near upset of the #2 team in the nation, the Butler Baseball team seemingly ran out of gas, and never could get things rolling in a rain-filled 0-8 loss to the #8 seed KCK Blue Devils on Friday afternoon. The loss ends the Grizzlies season with a record of 39-23. 

KCK threatended immensely in the top of the first after loading the bases with one out, but starter William Humphrey limited the damage to just a sacrifice fly and the Blue Devils only took a 1-0 lead. KCK doubled their lead in the second to 2-0 with an RBI single in the second. Humphrey performed well on the bump and held the Blue Devils scoreless into the sixth inning, but the Grizzly bats could not find the ball much at all in the game, as the Grizzlies were no-hit through the first five innings. By the time Justin Hudson beat out an infield single to break up the no-hitter in the sixth, the Grizzlies trailed 4-0 and were desperate for answers at the plate. A four-run eighth inning for the Devils would be enough to do the Grizzlies in, as the Grizzlies were held off the board in the bottom half, giving KCK the run-rule victory.

Starter Humphrey tossed an effective five and two-thirds innings, being charged with allowing just two earned runs on three hits, while striking out seven.

Micah Kobuszewski recorded his first hit since April 25th when he slapped a ball into centerfield for a base hit in the seventh inning. 

As a team, the Grizzlies drew six walks in the game.

As mentioned, the Grizzlies were eliminated from the Region VI Playoffs with this defeat and conclude the 2023 campaign with a record of 39-23 overall, 21-11 in KJCCC West play, and the Grizzlies finished as KJCCC West runner-up to Barton.