Softball Splits at Crowder ending series 3-1

Butler Softball traveled to Neosho, Missouri Monday to take on the Crowder Roughriders. The Grizzlies dropped game one 9-6 before defeating Crowder in game two 8-7. 

Game One

In the first game of the double header the Crowder Roughriders came out with an early one-run lead in the bottom of the first inning. After a scoreless second inning from both teams, a Ryanna Valdivia homerun to right center brought in three runs and the Grizzlies took the 3-1 lead. Crowder added another run in the third before the Grizzlies added three more runs of damage in the top of the fourth. A sacrifice fly from Aly Hageman would score Cady Dickey followed by a run on a Roughrider error and a JaKeyla McDaniel single that would bring in Reece Briggs to make the score 6-2. Grizzly scoring ended there, and the Roughriders had a five-run fifth inning that secured the lead that they would end the game with.

Allyson Montgomery will take the loss for the Grizzlies after four innings of work, facing 24 batters. Lena Walter joined the game in relief for Montgomery.

Game Two

Grizzly bats were hot to begin game two as they score seven runs on six hits in the top of the first inning. From there, it was Butler's best efforts to fend off the Crowder comeback that came within one run. Brionna Woods had two doubles and two RBIs for the Grizzlies in their 8-7 victory. Ally Hageman also chimed in with two RBIs along with Ryanna Valdivia, Cady Dickey, and Briana Acosta with one each.

Emma Koeneke will claim the win for game two after pitching four innings and being relieved by Lena Walter who made her second pitching appearance of the day.

Grizzlies are back on the road Wednesday to take on conference opponent the Barton Cougars in Great Bend, KS. The Butler Softball team is currently 7-1 in conference play with a 14-6 overall record.