EL DORADO, Kan. – Coming off a frustrating loss to Coffeyville where the Grizzlies allowed 14 runs, they responded with a bang, taking two games from the Hutchinson Blue Dragons on Thursday at McDonald Stadium.
Butler (12-9, 4-2 KJCCC) held a high-flying Hutchinson (16-7, 4-2 KJCCC) offense to just one run in a 5-1 game one win. The Grizzlies used CJ Reid's two run home run in the seventh inning of game two to secure a 6-5 win.
The series resumes in Hutchinson at Hobart-Detter Field on Saturday at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
Game 1: Butler 5, Hutchinson 1
Butler plated all six runs off home runs in the first game of the afternoon. Micah Kobuszewski got the scoring started in the bottom of the second with a three-run home run to put Butler ahead 3-0.
Hutchinson outhit Butler 6-5 but the Dragons stranded eight runners as timely pitching from the Grizzlies held them off.
Caden Kickhaefer (W, 3-1) earned the win as he started and threw 6.0 innings allowing one run on six hits, striking out two and walking three. The 6.0 innings was by far the most a Grizzly starter has thrown this season with the prior highest being Kickhaefer's 4.2 innings in a win at Barton on March 6th.
Jack Haag entered in the seventh and sat the Blue Dragons down in order to secure the win for the Grizzlies.
Cole Murrell hit a solo home run to right in the fourth, his second of the season to make it 4-0. Jaron Brown lifted his first home run of the season over the right field wall in the fifth, a solo shot.
Hutchinson's Ethan Giesbrecht (L, 3-2) threw all 6.0 innings with all five runs being earned. He struck out eight and walked one.
Game 2: Butler 6, Hutchinson 5
Butler built a 4-0 lead in game two but saw Hutchinson roar back with three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead.
Grizzly second baseman CJ Reid immediately responded with a two-run blast in the bottom of the seventh to right field that put Butler back on top 6-5.
Jack Haag came on for a second straight game, this time earning his conference leading fifth save of the season as he threw the ninth allowing no runs or hits, striking out the final batter of the game.
Jack Laird earned the start for Butler and had his best outing of the season, throwing 4.0 valuable innings allowing no runs on four hits, striking out six and walking none. Austin Bagnall (W, 2-1) earned the win as he was the pitcher of record as Butler re-took the lead.
Hutch outhit Butler 13-4 in the game, stranding 13 runners.
Taber Stokes drove in the first two runs of the game on a double to right center in the fourth.
Hutchinson's Jacob Hadden (L, 1-1) was hit with the loss after allowing one hit in 4.1 relief innings, Reid's home run.
