Losing Skid Continues as Baseball Comes Up Short at Dodge

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Butler baseball dropped both games of a doubleheader at Dodge City on Friday afternoon, falling 6-2 and 12-9 to the Conqs at Cavalier Field.

Butler (27-22, 16-10 KJCCC) dropped its fourth and fifth straight conference games and were passed by Dodge City (32-18, 16-10) for third place in the KJCCC West standings.

The series shifts to McDonald Stadium on Sunday afternoon for games three and four beginning at 1 p.m.

Game 1: Dodge City 6, Butler 2

Butler struggled to get its offense going in game one mustering just two runs on eight hits. The Grizzlies stranded 14 base runners in the game, unable to muster any offense with runners on.

Caden Kickhaefer (L, 7-3) was saddled with the loss as he allowed six runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Dodge City got out to a 4-0 lead with two runs each in the second and third.

A two out RBI single from Jaron Brown in the top of the fourth got Butler on the board to make it 4-1.

Butler added its second run in the fifth inning as Charlie Marcantel plated one on an RBI groundout pulling Butler within 4-2. The Grizzlies missed an opportunity in the inning, stranding two base runners.

Brown and Taber Stokes each led Butler with two hits while CJ Reid added a hit and two walks.

Dodge City's Carter Olson drove in two runs on two hits. He hit a two-run home run in the third to make it 4-0. Garret Carter (W, 2-2) got the start and earned the win as he tossed 5.2 innings allowing two runs on seven hits. Nathan Harmon picked up a save recording the final out in the seventh inning.

Game 2: Dodge City 12, Butler 9

Butler squandered two leads in game two, unable to hold the Conquistador offense off the scoreboard down the stretch as Butler lost 12-9 in the nine-inning game two.

The Grizzlies jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. CJ Reid hit a solo home run to make it 1-0 and Taber Stokes hit an RBI double off the wall in left field as the offense delivered early.

Dodge City countered with a run in the second and three runs in the third to take a 4-3 lead.

The Grizzlies tied the game in the fourth and then Garrett Fager hit a massive three-run home run, his sixth of the season to put the Grizzlies on top 7-4. It was the last lead they had in the game as Dodge outscored them 8-2 over the final four and a half innings.

Dayton Pelfrey made his first start of the season for Butler, throwing 3.1 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits, striking out one and walking two.

Austin Bagnall was hit with the loss throwing 3.2 innings in relief allowing five runs (four earned), on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Fager's three RBI paced Butler while Stokes, Charlie Marcantel and Frank Garcia all had two hits.

Dodge City was led led on offense by Nick Mesquita who was 3-4 with two RBI. Starting pitcher Bryce Chambers threw 3.1 innings allowing seven runs on six hits. Luis Santiago (W, 3-0) threw 3.0 shutout innings in relief and earned the win, striking out four. Nick Gray picked up a 2.0 inning save allowing no runs and striking out three.