EL DORADO, Kan. – Facing a familiar foe in the Indian Hills Warriors, No. 16 Butler softball came away with a doubleheader split at East Park on Monday afternoon.
Butler (16-4) and Indian Hills (11-9) squared off for the first time since the 2023 NJCAA Tournament where the Warriors eliminated the Grizzlies 13-8 in the elimination round. This year Butler got a victory in the first game before the Warriors bounced back in game two.
The Grizzlies return to East Park on Wednesday, hosting Dodge City at 1 and 3 p.m. in a KJCCC doubleheader.
Game 1: Butler 4, Indian Hills 2 (8 inn.)
A late comeback helped Butler secure a win as Cady Dickey launces a two run home run in the bottom of the eight to give Butler a walk-off extra inning win.
Stymied by Warrior starting pitcher Ashlynn Sheets (L, 4-4) for a majority of the game, Butler's bats found a way late. The Grizzlies trailed 2-1 heading into the seventh inning but Aly Hageman ripped a solo home run to right field in the first at bat of the inning to tie the game at two. Butler held the Warriors off the scoreboard in the eighth, and Dickey managed to hit the aforementioned home run in the bottom half after Chloe Cardona reached on a single to center field in the prior at bat. The home run was Dickey's seventh of the season.
SB vs. Indian Hills (G1) | B7
— Butler Grizzlies (@ButlerGrizzlies) March 11, 2024
ALY HAGEMAN YOU ARE CLUTCH‼️
The sophomore shortstop rips a solo
home run to right and we are tied at 2 in the bottom of the 7th!#RoarGrizz�� pic.twitter.com/9CNgtPzyW3
CADY DICKEY WALK OFF������#RoarGrizz�� pic.twitter.com/qEmP8K0i0Q
— Butler Grizzlies (@ButlerGrizzlies) March 11, 2024
The game served as a pitcher's duel with Sheets striking out 12 and walking none. She allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits in 7.2 innings pitched.
Butler's Cheyenne Handsaker (W, 6-1) threw 8.0 innings for a complete game. She struck out eight, walked two and allowed just one earned run, throwing 137 pitches.
Cardona had two hits and scored two runs while Dickey also had two hits.
Indian Hill's lone runs came in the sixth when they plated a run off a single to right field followed by another off a Grizzly throwing error. Butler made five errors in the game, a season-high.
Game 2: Indian Hills 6, Butler 3
Butler held a 3-2 lead after the third but a three-spot from the Warriors in the fourth was enough for them to force a split on the day.
Julia Kwakernaak hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning for the Warriors that gave them a 5-3 lead.
Butler scored a run each in the first, second and third innings. Cady Dickey drove in a run in the bottom of the first with a single to right center, Claire Lopez hit a single to left field to score the second in the second and Alivia Darbe hit a sacrifice fly in the third.
Indian Hill's Sara Reid (W, 5-3) threw a complete game, tossing all 7.0 innings. She struck out five and walked three, allowing three runs on nine hits.
Chloe Odle (L, 6-3) started for Butler and was hit with the loss throwing 3.1 innings allowing four earned runs on six hits. Addy Ewing relieved her in the fourth and threw the final 3.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits and striking out four.
