Sophomore Brynn Minor and freshman Alexis Reed celebrate during the Alvin game. Butler took the series 3-0 to remain undefeated this season.
Photo by: R. Smith
Ryan Paris
Student Sports Media
Butler softball just keeps rolling, as they won all three of their games on Friday, Feb. 17, and their two games on Saturday, Feb. 18. The first game, which came against Alvin, Texas, featured a very impressive pitching performance by Regan Mergele, as she tossed five no-hit innings to kick off the game, and ultimately leading to a 3-0 win, shutting out the Alvin offense.
In their game against Vernon (Texas), Maddie Siemer followed up with an impressive pitching performance of her own, as she tossed four shutout innings, and picking up her first win of the season. That final score was 3-0, another shutout.
Their third and final game on Friday had more offense, as the game opened with an RBI triple to right by Becca Schulte, and she later scored on a passed ball. When Butler led 5-2, Beanie Luttig hit a three-run home run to put the game to 8-2, and essentially out of reach. They would go on to win by a final score of 9-4, defeating Hill (Texas).
On Saturday, the Grizzlies were down early, 4-0, in the first inning. Butler’s offense struggled initially against Iowa Central, but in the fourth inning, Brynn Minor hit a solo home run and Caylie Kifer added a solo home run of her own in the fifth inning, which were part of a three-run inning to tie the game. Consecutive RBI singles by Kenzie Young, and Schulte helped bring the score to 8-4, which ended up being the final.
In their series-ending game on Saturday, against Des Moines Area Community College, Butler jumped out to the 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Darrian Hale.
Butler added another on a bases-loaded walk to Kenzie Young. Schulte added a sacrifice fly later to bring the score to 3-0. Mergele picked up the win in the 4-1 victory, as she pitched 4 2-3 innings, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out nine.
On Sunday, Feb. 19, the Grizzlies took on Rose State College in a double-header in Midwest City, Oklahoma, as they continued to win games. The first game ended in a 12-0 final, as the Butler offense was clicking on all cylinders. That game featured home runs by Brynn Minor and Tamarah Mascher. Regan Mergele picked up the win in that game, as she pitched three scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and striking out seven.
The second game was closer, as that ended in an 8-7 final, but Butler still picking up the win. Mergele picked up the win in that game as well, which brought her record to (5-0), as she pitched five innings, giving up just one hit, struck out seven and giving up two runs, none of them earned.
Next on the schedule, was a double-header at home against Friends JV on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The start times for those games were 2 and 4 p.m.
