Butler Softball Goes 1-1 on Day One of Region 6 Tournament

DODGE CITY, Kan. – The Butler Grizzlies won their first game of the Region 6 Tournament against Seward but fell in a heartbreaker in game two of the day to Dodge City on Friday. 

Game 1 (7 inn.) – Butler 11, Seward 5

After trailing 4-2 heading into the bottom half of the third, the Grizzlies scored four runs in the inning and continued to pour it on.

Addison Chapman tripled home a run, DeShawnna Bryant delivered a two‑RBI single, and Kate Free stole home during the inning to put Butler up 6–4. The Grizzlies added two more in the fourth on a sac fly from Chapman and an RBI groundout from Kyler Demel.

In the fifth, Emillee Stofferahn ripped a two‑run double down the right‑field line, stretching the lead to 10–4. Butler tacked on one more in the sixth on a Free RBI single.

Ellie Randall came in for relief and threw four innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run while earning the win for the Grizzlies. 

Game 2 (7 inn.) – Dodge City 3, Butler 2

In a tight, low‑scoring battle, Butler held a 2–0 lead into the sixth inning before Dodge City used back‑to‑back home runs to steal a 3–2 victory.

With one on and one out in the sixth, Dodge City's Loren Sweat crushed a two‑run homer to center to tie the game. Two batters later, Kloe Nelson launched a solo shot to left‑center, giving Dodge City a 3–2 lead.

The Grizzlies brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but McCloskey closed it out with back‑to‑back strikeouts.

Dodge City ace Avery McCloskey threw a complete game, striking out seven and allowing just one earned run.

Butler outhit Dodge City 5–4 but couldn't overcome the sixth‑inning power surge.

Next up: The Grizzlies will face the Barton Cougars on Saturday in a elimination game.