Kickhaefer Deals, Grizzly Offense Uses Long Ball in Game 1 Win over Neosho

EL DORADO, Kan. – Butler baseball jumped out to a 1-0 series lead over Neosho in the opening round of the Region VI Playoffs, winning 10-0 in eight innings at McDonald Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

Butler (31-25) got out to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series as they shut out Neosho (31-23) for a second time this season. The Grizzlies previously blanked the Panthers 8-0 on April 9th at Hudson Field. Game two is set for Friday at 1 p.m. CT at McDonald Stadium. With a Grizzly win they will advance to the Region VI Tournament at Eck Stadium beginning on Wednesday. A Neosho win forces a decisive game three on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.

Caden Kickhaefer (W, 9-3) was masterful on the mound in his last home start as a Grizzly throwing 6.0 scoreless innings allowing just four hits, striking out eight and walking two. The sophomore from Salina continued his dominance at home as he has yet to allow more than three earned runs in a home start, striking out 28 across the last three in wins over Neosho, Cloud County and Seward.

Butler mashed three home runs in the game that accounted for six of their 10 runs. CJ Reid got the scoring started in the bottom of the first with a solo shot to right center making it 1-0, his sixth of the year. The third inning saw Cole Murrell rip his 10th long ball of the season, a three-run blast with two outs to make it 4-0 Grizzlies. Micah Kobuszewski hit a two-run home run to right in the fifth making it 7-0, his sixth. Murrell and Kobuszewski each finished 3-4 with three runs driven in.

The Grizzlies finished off Neosho in the eighth as Taber Stokes hit an RBI double to left field, scoring Anibal Rivera and enacting the 10-run rule.

Austin Bagnall tossed 2.0 scoreless innings in relief of Kickhaefer allowing a lone hit and striking out one.

Butler chased Neosho starter Chayse Gruber (L, 8-4) after 5.0 innings as he allowed seven runs on eight hits, striking out three and walking one. Offensively, Cody Moore led the Panthers with a 3-4 performance.

Neosho threatened with two runners on in the second and third innings and loaded the bases in the fifth but could not push a run across, stranding eight runners in the game.