Grizzlies shut out Pratt 8-0 for conference win

Three Butler pitchers combined for a three-hit shutout Thursday in the Grizzlies' 8-0 conference victory over Pratt at McDonald Stadium.

Grizzly starter Zach Bilek (3-0) was perfect in four innings of work and struck out four batters, while Travis Hennessy and Dallas Armstrong combined for three shutout relief innings to complete the shutout.

Butler (14-19 overall, 6-13 conference) jumped early on the visiting Beavers by scoring all eight runs within the first three innings of the contest.

Caleb Cox drove in the first run with a one-out double to right to score Javis Larson. Tanner White then put Butler up 3-0 with a two-run home run to right.

With runners at the corners and Garrett Chalker batting in the bottom of the second inning, Pratt pitcher Hayden Wheeler threw a wild pitch to allow Mason Goade to score from third base.

Butler capped the scoring with four runs in the third, beginning with a Connor Hurst RBI single to left to score Cox. Jackson Soule followed with a single down the right-field line to score White. Two batters later, Tanner Hearon's single to center scored both Hurst and Soule.

Cox and White both went 2-for-4 with two runs scored to lead the Grizzlies, while Blake Blessie was 2-for-3. Hearon and White had two RBI each in the win.

Butler's win secured at least a tie in the four-game series with the Beavers, as the two teams split the opening doubleheader on Sunday. Originally scheduled to finish the series on Monday, rain postponed the series until Thursday. The final game of the series has yet to be scheduled.

The Grizzlies will be on the road in Liberal to take on Seward County this weekend in Jayhawk Conference play. Butler will play doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, both scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. Butler will then return home to play Cowley in a single nine-inning game on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.