Freshman (third base) Anna Williams (top) smiles rounding third base after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning. Freshman outfielder Meghan Gutierrez (left) drops down a bunt against Dodge City. The softball team comes out of the dugout to congratulate freshman catcher and infielder Makensey Pankers after a grand slam. The Grizzlies went on to beat Dodge City 30-6 in that game. Ryan Paris
Ryan Paris
Student Sports Media
After a long road trip in Texas for the Cowtown Classic and Region XIV Crossover Tournament, the Butler Grizzlies softball team finally returns home to resume their conference play.
There are some high expectations put on the Grizzlies softball team, as they nearly went undefeated the last entire season and won yet another national title. This year, however, things have been difficult for the Grizzlies, at least for their standards. They currently stand at 9-3 on the season.
So far in the month of March, they are 2-1, with those two wins coming against Navarro College and Trinity Valley Community College. Their win against Navarro College ended in a 14-6 final, with the two biggest hits of that game being a sophomore Alexis Reed three-run home run, as well as a two-run triple by sophomore Paige Pacher, who eventually scored on an error. These hits gave the Grizzlies momentum, and overcame a six-run inning by Navarro, to come away with the win. The winning pitcher was sophomore Maddie Siemer, who went four innings, giving up six earned runs on five hits. She walked five and struck out two as well.
There was far less offense in the Trinity Valley game, with that score ending at 3-1. Trinity Valley took the lead in the third inning, with a solo home run. In the bottom half of the inning, the Grizzlies rallied, starting with a sophomore Caylie Kifer double, and later scored on a sophomore Kenzie Young single. Paige Pacher later scored on an error in the same inning. In the sixth inning, Tamarah Mascher singled, which scored sophomore Nykiah Hines, making the score 3-1, which ended up being the final.
After a 2-0 loss to Bossier Parish Community College, the Grizzlies return home to take on Dodge City on Tuesday, March 6, at 2 and 4 p.m. They will be looking to rebound after the loss, and try to start a winning streak, with them being back home. After Dodge City, their next game will come against Northwest Kansas Technical College on Wednesday, March 7, with those games being at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. as well.