Grizzlies win first game of 2017 with 16-9 win at Independence
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 3 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 18 | 7 |
The Butler baseball team got its first victory of the season and avenged its two losses with a 16-9 win at Independence this afternoon.
Caleb Cox hit a grand slam home run in a big fifth inning to power Butler's attack and help break the game open.
Butler had led 2-0 after getting runs in the first and third innings.
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Corey Murphy had thrown three scoreless inning, but surrendered a pair of runs as Independence tied the game in the bottom of the fourth.
Butler then posted eight runs in the top of the fifth to go ahead 10-2 and put the game away.
Connor Hurst also added a two-run home run as part of a big seventh inning for the Grizzlies, who would be ahead 16-3 going to the bottom of the inning.
A Butler error on a dropped pop up allowed Independence to score four unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh, allowing the Pirates to avoid getting run-ruled.
Caleb Nunez gets the victory after throwing a scoreless bottom of the fifth. He was one of five Grizzlies to throw one inning of relief along with Eli Deleon, Blake Mullendore, Sloan Baker and Gus Marcotte.
For Butler, Cameron Callihan, Tanner Hearon and Mason Goade all had a pair of hits. Garrett Chalker and Goade both scored three runs apiece.
Butler (1-2) will next play at Coffeyville on Friday.