The third ranked Butler Grizzlies started the season on a high note, earring two wins in Denison, Texas on Friday to start the season. They won their first game in dominating fashion against Weatherford College, 6-0, before winning a thrilling extra inning affair over Murray State, 3-2, in eight innings, before a double header against Grayson College scheduled for Sunday was canceled.
Game One
It was a dominating performance on the mound for Emma Koeneke, as the freshman gave up one hit in five innings, pitching the shutout and earning nine strikeouts while surrendering only two walks to earn her first career win. Kendal LeGrand pitched two innings in relief, giving up no runs on just two hits as the two pitchers combined for ten strikeouts.
Six different Grizzlies earned RBIs as Butler totaled six runs on 11 hits. Paige Paxton hit a double while Reese Briggs earned the Grizzlies' first home run of the season, going yard in the bottom of the second inning.
Game Two
The Grizzlies had to sweat out an eight inning thriller in the second game of the day, defeating the Murray State Aggies by way of a bases loaded hit by pitch, as Gianna De Luca-Paape took one for the team to plate the winning run in the eighth inning after the Grizzlies squandered a two run lead in the sixth.
Allyson Montgomery was dominant in her first start, pitching four innings and allowing no runs on two hits and collecting six strikeouts. But it was Emma Koeneke who picked up the win, her second of the day and the season, as she shut out the Aggies in extra innings, allowing no hits and striking out six batters, including striking out the side in the seventh inning.
The Grizzlies struggled at the plate in the second game but did just enough to earn the victory. Luca-Pappe and Paige Paxton got the two RBIs while Madi Young plated a run by way of a sacrifice fly, in addition to hitting her first triple of the season. The Grizzlies plated three runs on three hits while earning eight free passes and leaving three runners stranded on base.
The two victories in Denison means Butler will start the season 2-0, and they'll travel to downtown Wichita for two games against the Friends Falcons on Tuesday, before heading on the road for a doubleheader against Vernon College on Friday and a doubleheader against Clarendon College on Saturday in a four game weekend slate.
