EL DORADO, Kan. – Butler softball completed its regular season series with Garden City at East Park on Wednesday, taking two games from the Broncbusters in run rule fashion.
Butler (24-6, 14-2) made quick work of the Broncbusters (5-27, 3-15), winning 12-0 in game one and 10-2 in the second, both in five innings.
The Grizzlies close out play this week on Thursday with a non-conference doubleheader vs. Crowder College at East Park, first pitch at 2 p.m.
Game 1: Butler 12, Garden City 0
The Butler pitching staff held Garden City to just one hit while the Grizzlies pounded out 12 hits of their own on the way to the win.
Cheyenne Handsaker (W, 10-2) earned her 10th win of the season, striking out four and allowing a lone hit in 3.0 innings of work. Alyssa Mude tossed the final 2.0 innings without allowing a hit, striking out one.
Seven Grizzlies finished with a hit. Claire Lopez was 3-3 to lead the way, driving in two runs.
Madison Nightingale started at third and was 2-2, driving in four runs and walking once.
Teagan Graul hit her first collegiate run in the fourth inning, a two-run shot to dead center.
Butler plated four runs each in the first and third. Garden City starting pitcher CJ Sherman (L, 3-9) took the loss, allowing 10 runs on 11 hits in 3.0 innings. She walked six and struck out one.
Game 1 highlights below
�� Highlights from @BUCOSoftball's game 1 win over Garden City!#RoarGrizz�� pic.twitter.com/S5pJBmOgZX
— Butler Grizzlies (@ButlerGrizzlies) March 28, 2024
Game 2: Butler 10, Garden City 2
Game two got off to a slower start with Butler leading just 3-2 heading to the bottom of the third. They used a four-spot in the bottom of the third to get out to a 7-2 lead as Nightingale and Kaylah Newman drove in runs on base hits and Kim Yepez drove in a run off a sacrifice fly.
Garden City scored the first run of the game in the first on Cadence Mallet's RBI single. The Grizzlies countered in the bottom half with runs scored off a wild pitch and passed ball.
Butler's Chloe Odle (W, 9-4) picked up the win, going 4.0 innings and striking out seven, allowing two runs on four hits. Lena Walter pitched the fifth, sitting the Broncbusters down in order.
Nightingale had another strong game finishing with two hits, three RBI and two walks as well as making some impressive picks at third base.
Caylee Mann drove in two runs on a double to left center in the fourth to make it 9-2.
A Nightingale single to left field closed the game out in the fifth as Butler won it 10-2.
Game 2 highlights below
Game 2 highlights! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/OXDREQPxrK
— Butler Grizzlies (@ButlerGrizzlies) March 28, 2024
