Bush tosses complete-game win; Butler baseball splits with Pratt
Butler baseball opened a conference series with a victory for the first time this season, but could not complete the doubleheader sweep against Pratt on Sunday at McDonald Stadium.
Freshman starter Cody Bush tossed a complete-game 2-1 win in the opener against the Beavers, while Pratt took the second game with an 8-1 victory.
The Grizzlies (13-19 overall, 5-12 conference) will attempt to win its first conference series on Monday with a doubleheader against Pratt. First pitch is at McDonald Stadium is at 1:00 p.m.
Game 1 - Butler 2, Pratt 1
Butler never trailed in the contest, as the Grizzlies took a 2-0 lead after three innings.
Jackson Soule's RBI single to left drove in Connor Hurst for the game's first run in the bottom of the second.
The Grizzlies added the second run in the third, which was set up by a Garrett Chalker single and Javis Larson walk. With no outs, Caleb Cox reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a wild throw to first base for an attempted double play. The errant throw allowed Chalker to score on the play.
Pratt's lone run came in the fourth inning on a solo homer to right-center by Reece Garvie.
Bush (3-3) had his best outing of the season, allowing just three hits in seven innings while striking out six. The complete game was Bush's third of the season.
The Grizzlies had five hits in the contest, with Hurst having Butler's only extra-base hit on a double.
Game 2 - Pratt 8, Butler 1
Pratt led 7-0 after three innings and scored all eight runs against starter Drake Norton.
In the second inning, the Beavers loaded the bases with no outs on a hit by pitch, walk and a bunt single. Pratt then scored two runs on a throwing error, then added another run on an RBI groundout by Josh Jones.
Tynan Hofferle delivered the big hit in the Beavers' four-run third with a three-run home run to left.
Trailing 8-0, Butler managed to break the shutout when Jackson Soule scored on a Tanner Hearon groundout.
The Grizzlies loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning off reliever Tanner Kleinsasser, which forced Pratt to make a pitching change. Beavers sophomore Jacob Compton escaped further damage with a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Chalker led Butler with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.
Norton (1-4) was credited with the loss, giving up six earned runs on seven hits in just four innings of work. The Grizzlies bullpen combined for five shutout innings and allowed just two hits. Blake Mullendore and Dakota Rodd finished with identical stat lines, each going two innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts. Sloan Baker finished the game with a shutout inning.