Chance wins 300th game as Butler sweeps Colby at home
Butler's Doug Chance won his 300th game as a collegiate head coach as his Grizzles swept a doubleheader from Colby in Jayhawk West Conference action on Tuesday at East Park in El Dorado.
Butler won the first game 8-4, then got a game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to win game two by a 10-9 score.
The second game was Chance's 300th victory. Now in his eighth year at Butler, he has averaged more than 40 wins per season with four conference titles and three NJCAA Division I World Series appearances.
Butler is now 10-7 on the season, 3-1 in Jayhawk West Conference play. The Grizzlies play at home on Thursday in a doubleheader against Kirkwood (Iowa) at 2 p.m. and then travel to Neosho, Mo. to play in the Crowder Tournament this weekend.
GAME 1
Colby struck first with a two-run home run by Michelle Glaze. Butler struck back with three runs in the bottom of the second as Kelci Garza drove in two runs with a double and scored on a double hit by Kaitlyn Wolken.
Kelsey Berlin hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third to put Butler ahead 4-2.
Colby would tie the game with two more runs in the fifth, but again Butler answered. Again, it was a 2-run double by Kelci Garza that got things started. Garza and Alyssa Aguilar later scored when Colby booted a ball put in play by Wolken, making the score 8-4.
Starting pitcher Mac Millspaugh went the distance to get the win, striking out nine in seven innings and walking just one.
GAME 2
The Grizzlies scored five runs in the bottom of the first, as Kelci Garza singled to drive in two more runs. Heather Ryder and Ashley Malone also drove in a run apiece in the inning.
Despite that big inning, Colby would not go away. In fact, the Grizzlies fell behind 9-6 in the sixth inning. Butler, though, proved its mettle by scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by an RBI single by Alyssa Aguilar, who would also score later in the inning on a wild pitch to tie the game.
Mac Millspaugh came on in relief of Heather Ryder for the seventh inning and retired Colby in order. Then in the bottom of the inning, Kelsey Berlin walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Abby Furstenberg. Ashley Malone then hit a walk-off single to left field to score Berlin.
Malone drove in two runs in the game while going 2-4 at the plate. Furstenberg was 2-3 while Garza was 4-4 as part of a combined six hits on the day.