Owen Berk
Student Sports Media
Going into the Wednesday, April 3 matchup against the Hutchinson Blue Dragons, the Grizzlies softball team rode a four-game win streak, collectively winning those games by a total score of 54-14. Revenge was on the mind of the Blue Dragons as they were embarrassed by Butler in their last double header by scores of 10-0 and 15-1 respectively. Unfortunately for them, the Grizzlies had other things in mind.
Butler trailed for a majority of the first game after falling down 3-2 after the second inning. Going into the bottom of the seventh, the Grizzlies still trailed by one run. Head Coach Doug Chance called on Freshman Asia Henry to pinch hit and she delivered. She hit a line drive tipped by the pitcher’s glove to center field, driving in two runs to complete the comeback. After a nail biting seven innings, the Grizzlies escaped the Blue Dragons, but were not out the water yet with the second game still looming.
The second game was almost a complete turnaround from the first for the Grizzlies as they showed shades from their first two games against Hutch. They run ruled the Blue Dragons 9-1 in the bottom of the 6th inning. Freshman Taliya Talley knocked in a two-run double in the bottom of the third to blow the game open. She also knocked a three-run homer in the 6th inning. Sophomore Jamie Barta hit an RBI single to hit the run rule.
With half the season remaining on the schedule, the Grizzlies sit at 17-5 on the season and in first place of the Jayhawk East. Butler’s double header at Barton on Saturday, April 13 will be some of the biggest games of the season as they sit in second behind the Grizzlies.