Butler extends winning streak to 20 with wins over Barton
The Butler softball team extended its season-high winning streak to 20 games with a pair of home conference victories against Barton on Thursday afternoon at East Park.
Butler (43-2 overall, 14-0 conference) won both contests by run-rule over the Cougars, winning 11-0 and 8-0.
The Grizzlies, ranked #1 for the third consecutive week in the NJCAA Division I poll, have now won 24 games by run-rule this season. Butler also remained undefeated in home contests, moving its record to 11-0.
Butler will end the conference schedule Monday when they face Seward County, with the first game starting at 2 p.m. at East Park.
Butler 11, Barton 0 (5 innings)
Sophomore pitcher Maggie Ham (23-1) dominated the Barton hitters, allowing just one hit and striking out 10 batters. Barton did not get its first hit until the fifth inning.
The Grizzlies scored a run in each of the first two innings of the contest. Kaitlyn Wolken hit a sacrifice fly to score Sydney Stuever in the first, then Alyssa Aguilar had an RBI groundout to bring home Ashton Atwell in the second inning.
In the third, Atwell hit her 11th home run of the season - a two-run shot to right field - to give Butler a 4-0 lead.
Butler then exploded for seven runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a grand slam home run by Kate James. Alex Millspaugh, Alyson Bressie and Rachel Harper also had RBI hits in the inning.
Butler 8, Barton 0 (6 innings)
Butler opened the scoring in the second inning when Kelsey Berlin hit an RBI single up the middle of the infield to score Ashton Atwell.
In the third inning, Kate James hit her team-high 20th home run - a three-run blast just inside the left-field foul pole. The homer gave Butler a commanding 4-0 lead.
Tyler Casada had an RBI triple and Erin Boston added an RBI single in the fourth. Butler had a chance to end the game in the fifth when Kelsey Berlin's triple to left scored Rachel Harper to give Butler a 7-0 lead. However, Berlin was stranded at third to end the inning.
Dominica O'Nelio led off the sixth inning with a single, then stole second base. After advancing to third on a fielder's choice, O'Nelio ended the game when she scored on a wild pitch.
Mac Millspaugh (14-0) earned the win by throwing four shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out seven batters. Kelsey Berlin came on in relief for the final two innings, giving up two hits and fanning two batters.