EL DORADO, Kan. – Following two losses on the first day of baseball at McDonald Stadium in 2024, Butler baseball was searching to get in the win column vs. the Des Moines Area Bears on Saturday.
They were able to split on the second day of doubleheaders falling 15-7 in game one of the day and winning 6-5 in the second game.
Game 1: Des Moines Area CC 15, Butler 7
The Grizzly pitching staff continued to struggle, allowing 15 runs on 15 hits. Four Grizzly errors also hurt their chances.
DMACC brought home six runs in both the third and fifth innings which proved too much too overcome.
Grizzly starting pitcher Zach Murkin tossed 1.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no walks before being forced to exit the game with an injury. Butler then used a combination of five pitchers all throwing an inning or less to finish the game.
Anibal Rivera and Justin Hudson each had two hits with Hudson driving in two runs. The Grizzlies had just seven hits.
Game 2: Butler 6, Des Moines Area CC 5
The Grizzlies were able to salvage a win from the four-game series, winning 6-5 in the final game on Saturday.
Tate Rico (W, 1-0) earned the win for Butler tossing a scoreless 1.2 innings, closing out the sixth. Freshman Jack Haag threw the seventh and earned his third save of the year.
Garrett Fager, CJ Reid and Anibal Rivera each had two hits but none were bigger than Rivera's three-run home run on the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Grizzlies a 6-5 lead, one they did not lose again.
A Justin Hudson two run home run in the first inning gave Butler a 2-1 lead at the time.
BSB vs. DMACC (G2)
— Butler Grizzlies (@ButlerGrizzlies) March 2, 2024
Anibal Rivera with a HUGE 3-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to put the Grizzlies on top 6-5��#RoarGrizz�� pic.twitter.com/fb5K7gpclQ
