By Kalon Fullerton
The 17th ranked Butler Grizzlies completed a busy week of softball with a successful day, sweeping Crowder College at East Park in El Dorado. The Sunday doubleheader was between two ranked teams as they picked up wins against 19th ranked Crowder College defeating the Roughriders 12-2 in run rule fashion in game one before a 7-2 victory in game two to complete the sweep.
The Grizzlies fell behind in the first inning of game one, when Crowder hit a two run shot to open the game. Butler responded with a four run inning to take the lead in the bottom of the third and they would never look back. The inning was powered by a three run home run by Ryanna Valdivia, her fourth of the year, and a solo shot from Briona Woods. The Grizzlies blew open the game with five runs in the fifth and Briona Woods ended the game early in the sixth inning with her second home run of the day, a three run blast to left center to put the game away with the run rule victory.
Allyson Montgomery earned the win, her sixth of the year, pitching a complete game in six innings and allowing just two runs, striking out three.
In game two, the Grizzly bats came to life again, as Briona Woods hit two home runs for the second game in a row, bringing her total to four home runs on the day. Kendyl Anderson also had two homers, and Aly Hageman hit her first home run of her career. Woods, Anderson, and Hageman went back-to-back-to-back with solo shots in the sixth inning that saw the Grizzlies score four runs and blow the game open. Woods finished the game with two RBIs and three hits while Anderson finished with two hits and two RBIs.
Emma Koeneke earned her fourth win of the season, putting her record at 4-3, while Lena Walter earned her third save of the year. Koeneke got the start and pitched five innings, allowing only one run on three hits and striking out four.
After a week that saw the Grizzlies play eight games, Butler improves their record on the year to 11-5. Next up for the Grizzlies is another nonconference doubleheader, as Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa takes the trip north to East Park on Wednesday, before Butler returns to conference play as they host Colby for a doubleheader on Saturday.
