Ryan Paris
Student Sports Media
The Butler Grizzlies softball team extended their undefeated season even more, as they now are 20-0 on the season. On Friday, Feb. 24, the Grizzlies played a double-header, taking on Tyler, Texas and Paris, Texas. Neither one of those games were close, as they defeated Tyler 13-1, and Paris 19-0. In the Tyler game, Ki’Audra Hayter led the way on offense, as she had two home runs and seven RBIs in the game. Brynn Minor also had a home run of her own, along with four RBIs. Regan Mergele picked up the win to bring her record to (6-0).
In the game against Paris, there was no lack of offense whatsoever. The biggest inning was the third, where the Butler offense erupted for 9 runs, after already leading 5-0. That inning began with a two-run homer by Darrian Hale to bring the score to 7-0. Hale, along with Kenzie Young, had RBI singles in that inning as well. Some of those runs were gift wrapped, as Paris committed five errors in the game, which aided the Grizzlies to the 19-0 victory. Celina Sullivan picked up the win and bringing her record to (4-0), as she tossed three shutout innings, allowing one hit, and striking out four.
The team had another double-header on Saturday, Feb. 25, against Kilgore College, and Trinity Valley Community College. They beat Kilgore College, 11-1, in a game where the Grizzlies received another solid pitching performance by Mergele, as she pitched 3 shutout innings, only allowing 1 hit, and striking out 4. Minor hit a grand slam in the game as well, and that was her sixth home run of the season.
They also came out on top against Trinity Valley, 10-7. That game featured home runs by Hale and Alexis Reed. Minor was the winning pitcher in that game, as she came on for relief work and threw 3 shutout innings en route to the victory.
On Sunday, Feb. 26, the Grizzlies had yet another double-header, this time with the games coming against Navarro College and Northeast Texas Community College. They came out on top against Navarro 7-1, as they breezed to the win behind yet another strong Mergele pitching performance, as her record went up to 8-0, and her ERA dropping to 0.32, which leads the team. She threw five innings of scoreless ball, and never surrendered a hit either. Minor hit her seventh home run of the season in that game as well.
Their second game on Sunday was dramatic, as they were down 4-0 in the first inning. Their offense was held scoreless through five innings, as the Butler offense really struggled. Minor and Jurgenson, however, were able to pull the Grizzlies within one, after Minor hit a solo shot, and Jurgenson hit a two-run home run. After eventually tying the game on an RBI groundout, the Grizzlies pulled ahead 6-4 after two-run single by Hale. They would go on to win by that score, and the Grizzlies then brought their overall win streak to 58, dating back to last season.
Sophomore shortstop Rebecca Schulte has had a very positive outlook on the Grizzlies progress this season and believes that the best days have yet to come.
“This year has been eye opening for me as a leader and sophomore,” she said. “I love how hungry these girls are to win and how hard they fight every game to get it done. There is so much raw talent on the team this year, which makes me so excited to see just how good we are going to be in May. We have managed to win all of our games so far despite not always playing our best. The simple fundamental mistakes that keep happening need to be fixed, but that is what makes me so excited about this time. We are winning, yet we still aren’t as good as we will be when it really counts.”