National power Iowa Western takes two from Grizzlies

Iowa Western proved it is deserving of its No. 4 national ranking on Monday, as the Reivers swept Butler in a doubleheader at McDonald Stadium, 18-3 and 11-6.

The first game was called after six innings due to run rule. The second game ended in the top of the sixth when a thunderstorm packing lightning, hail and heavy winds moved into the El Dorado area.

Iowa Western, which won the 2010 national championship and finished as national runners up a year ago, showed off its offensive power against the Grizzlies on Monday. In the first game, the Reivers hit two home runs and five doubles.

Butler, meanwhile, was stymied by pitcher Tanner Kreitmeier, who didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning, when Baylor Parker drove in Butler's first run with a single to right field to score Ross Cunningham, who had reached on a walk.

In the fifth inning, Butler would score two more runs. A Matt Moore single drove in Levi Parker and Ross Cunningham had an RBI groundout to score Brayon Colley.

In the second game, Kreitmeier led off the game with a solo home run, but the Grizzlies would score two runs in the bottom of the first when Tory Bell blasted a double to left-center to score Levi Parker and Ross Cunningham.

Butler's 2-1 lead would last until the third inning when Iowa Western scored 10 runs off of Butler pitcher Taylor Berthusen to go ahead 11-2.

The Grizzlies answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the third as Levi Parker again scored on an RBI double by Tory Bell. Gus Strunk and Cooper Biggers also singled to drive in runs in the inning.

Taylor Berthusen took the loss on the mound. He allowed just one run over four innings outside of the 10-run third inning. John Reick threw one scoreless inning in relief.

Iowa Western, which also swept Cowley County on Sunday, is now 4-0 on the season. Butler, which saw its three-game winning streak come to an end, is 3-4 with a doubleheader on Tuesday at Seminole State in Oklahoma.