Butler Takes Opener, Barton Responds in Game 2 to Split Thursday Doubleheader

GREAT BEND, Kan. – Butler rode a four‑hit, four‑RBI explosion from freshman Tanay Vyas to take Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader at Barton, but the Cougars answered with an 18‑8 slugfest win in the nightcap to even the series heading into Saturday's rematch in El Dorado.

Game 1 (7 inn.) – Butler 7, Barton 5

Barton struck first in the opening inning when Carter Helm ripped a ground‑rule RBI double to score Rhett Winchester, who had bunted his way on and stolen second. The Cougars added two more in the second: Micah McGavran launched a solo homer, and Winchester later doubled home JJ Spafford to make it 3–1.

Butler answered immediately. In the top of the second, Vyas singled and advanced on two Barton errors before Manny Dunn drove him in to tie the game 1–1. After Barton's two‑run second, the Grizzlies flipped the momentum in the third. Yusei Uzawa singled and stole second, setting up Jackson Ellison's RBI double. One batter later, Vyas crushed a two‑run homer to center, giving Butler its first lead at 4–3.

The Grizzlies kept pressing in the fourth. With two outs and runners on second and third, Danny Wideman delivered a sharp single through the left side, scoring both Holden Lough and Uzawa to stretch the lead to 6–3.

Barton chipped away—an unearned run in the fifth on Kyle Graves' RBI single and a solo homer from Hayden Oviatt in the sixth—but never fully closed the gap. Butler added a key insurance run in the seventh when Wideman singled, stole second, advanced to third, and scored on Vyas' fourth hit of the day.

Starter Shane Holman battled through five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits while striking out three. He earned the win, improving to 5–2.

Reliever Connor Clark surrendered Oviatt's sixth‑inning homer but recorded three outs.

Closer Connor Robinson handled the seventh, stranding the tying run at the plate after a leadoff walk and a Helm double. He induced a pop‑up and then a game‑ending double play to secure his third save.

Barton's Antonio Mendez took the loss, giving up 11 hits and seven runs (six earned) across 6.2 innings.

Game 2 (7 inn.) – Barton 18, Butler 8

The second game of the day didn't go the Grizzlies way, falling 18–8 to Barton in a run rule. 

Barton's offense erupted for 18 runs on 16 hits, powered by six home runs and a relentless attack that overwhelmed the Grizzlies. The Cougars scored in six of seven innings, including nine runs in the first two frames, and never looked back. 

Despite the loss, Grizzly freshman Tanay Vyas had a great day at the plate. Vyas finished 2–4, 4 RBI, 2 HR. Danny Wideman also had a solid day at the plate, going 3–4 with 2 RBI and a triple. 

Maddux Schrupp (L, 3-3) suffered the loss on the mound for the Grizzlies. 

Next up: The Grizzlies will face the Cougars again on Saturday from McDonald Stadium in El Dorado at 1 & 3 p.m.