Baseball rallies for doubleheader sweep over SE Nebraska
Butler baseball had a pair of walk-off victories in a home doubleheader sweep of Southeast Nebraska on Saturday at McDonald Stadium.
The Grizzlies took the opening game 7-6 when Javis Larson singled up the middle to score Blake Blessie in the bottom of the eighth inning. In Game 2, Butler put together a three-run seventh inning capped by a Jackson Soule sacrifice fly for a 9-8 victory over the Storm.
Currently on a five-game winning streak, Butler (7-4 overall) will host Southeast for the final contest of a three-game series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Butler 7, SE Nebraska 6 (8 innings)
Butler took a 2-0 lead over the Storm after two innings. Connor Hurst singled to right to score Caleb Cox in the first inning, then Jackson Soule lead off the second with a double. Soule moved to third base on a bunt and came home on a balk.
Southeast tied the game in the third with a Justin Lott RBI single and another run scoring on a fielder's choice.
In the top of the fifth, Southeast's Ryan Connell scored from third on a groundout to put the Storm up 3-2.
Soule put the Grizzlies back in front, 5-3, with a three-run home run off the scoreboard in the bottom-half of the inning.
Southeast answered back with a three-run sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead. Cornell put the Storm in front with a two-run single through the middle off reliever Dakota Rodd.
Butler was able to send the game into extra innings when Trent Smith tied the game at 6-all with an RBI groundout to score pinch runner Garrett Glass. Caleb Cox led off the seventh with a single, then Glass came on to pinch run.
The Grizzlies had two runners in scoring position after Hurst doubled down the third-base line. Two batters later, Smith grounded out to second which allowed Glass to score from third.
In the eighth, Blake Blessie took a four-pitch walk, then moved up to second on a fielder's choice. After a walk to Garrett Chalker, Larson singled up the middle to score Blessie and end the game.
Soule led Butler offensively, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI, while Cox and Hurst each went 2-for-3.
Hayden Schaeffer picked up the win with 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief, striking out three while allowing just one hit.
Butler 9, SE Nebraska 8
The Grizzlies opened the scoring in the first inning when Connor Hurst tripled to center to drive in Caleb Cox.
Southeast came back with a three-run home run by Grant Van Scoy, then Ben Palensky followed with a solo shot to give the Storm a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Garrett Chalker and Connor Hurst each drove in two runs on a pair of singles. Hurst would later score on a wild pitch to put Butler up 6-4.
Neither team would score until Southeast put up four runs in the sixth. Ben Palensky walked with the bases loaded to score the first run, then the Storm tied the game when Grant Van Scoy scored from third on a wild pitch. Justin Lott put Southeast in front with a two-run single.
Trailing 8-6 in the seventh, Larson and Cox led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Hurst drove an 0-1 pitch into left-center to score both runners to tie the game.
After a groundout moved Hurst to third, Soule's sacrifice fly to right easily scored Hurst for the winning run, setting off a team celebration up the first-base line.
Hurst went 4-for-4 with a double, triple and five RBI in the cleanup spot, while Soule had two hits.
Zach Bilek received the win by throwing the final 2/3 innings.