Above: Freshman Garrett Chalker swings a pitch against McPherson JV on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at McDonald Stadium.
Photo by Mario Cabrera
Mario Cabrera
Student Sports Media
The Butler Grizzlies defeated McPherson JV 13-3 despite allowing a 3-run inning on Wednesday, Feb. 22. McPherson JV’s big sixth inning was driven by a stolen base by Reily Martin, a double by Darrian Moss and a groundout by Jackson Goodmiller.
Butler secured the victory thanks to eight runs in the fifth inning.
The big inning was thanks to an error, a single by Connor Callhan, a single by Garrett Xanders, a passed ball, a double by Garrett Chalker and a stolen base by Jackson Soule.
Zack Bilek earned the win for Butler. He threw one inning, giving up zero runs, zero hits, striking out one and walking one. Dalton Van Houtan took the loss for McPherson JV. He tossed four innings, giving up two runs, three hits and striking out three.
Javis Larson’s walk-off gives Butler victory over Southeast Nebraska a walk-off single to win the game 7-6 on Saturday, Feb. 25. The game was tied at six with Butler batting in the bottom of the eighth when Larson singled off of B.J. Sparks, driving in one run.
Both offenses were strong at the plate as Butler collected eight hits and Southeast Nebraska 12 hits. Butler captured the lead in the first inning. Connor Hurst drove in one when he singled in the first inning. Butler evened things up at six in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trent Smith grounded out, scoring one run.
Butler scored three runs in the fifth inning. Butler scored its runs on a home run by Jackson Soule. Southeast Nebraska scored three runs in the sixth inning. The big inning for Southeast Nebraska came thanks to a groundout by Grant Van Scoy and a single by Ryan Cornell.
Hayden Schaeffer earned the win for Butler. He pitched two-and-a-third innings, giving up zero runs, one hit, striking out three, and walking zero. Gavin Gragg took the loss for Southeast Nebraska. He tossed two and a third innings, surrendering two runs, two hits and striking out three.
Cody Bush started the game for Butler. He went five innings, allowing three runs, eight hits, striking out four and walking one. Kayleb Sanderson started the game for Southeast Nebraska. He threw five innings, allowing five runs, five hits and striking out three.
Butler took Saturday’s second game in dramatic fashion, with a 9-8 walk-off victory over Southeast Nebraska. The game was tied at eight with Butler batting in the bottom of the seventh when Jackson Soule hit a sacrifice fly to drive in a run. Both offenses were strong at the plate as Butler collected nine hits and Southeast Nebraska 11.
Butler captured the lead in the first inning. Connor Hurst drove in one when he tripled in the first inning. Butler scored five runs in the second inning. Butler’s big inning was driven by a single by Garrett Chalker, an error and a wild pitch.
Southeast Nebraska scored four runs in the sixth inning. The big inning for Southeast Nebraska came thanks to a walk by Ben Palensky and a single by Justin Lott.
Zack Bilek earned the win for Butler. He tossed two-thirds of an inning, allowing zero runs, zero hits, striking out one, and walking zero. Ruben Ramirez took the loss for Southeast Nebraska. He pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs, three hits and walking zero.
Butler and Southeast Nebraska passed the lead back-and-forth on Sunday, Feb. 26, but eventually Southeast Nebraska prevailed 7-5. The game was tied at five with Southeast Nebraska batting in the top of the ninth when Trevor Jurjevich singled off of Travis Hennessy, driving in one run.
Butler lost despite out-hitting Southeast Nebraska 14-10. Butler captured the lead in the second inning. Mason Goade drove in one when he homered in the second inning.
Joseph Vargas earned the win for Southeast Nebraska. He threw two innings, surrendering one run, two hits, striking out four and walking one. Matt Cook recorded the last three outs to earn the save for Southeast Nebraska. Travis Hennessy took the loss for Butler. He gave up three runs, three hits and walked no one.
