No. 2 Butler softball sweeps Rose State in road doubleheader
MIDWEST CITY, Okla. – Butler softball remained undefeated on the season with a doubleheader sweep of Rose State (OK) on Sunday at the Raiders Softball Field.
The second-ranked Grizzlies (14-0 overall) run-ruled the host Raiders 12-0 in the opener, then held off Rose State for an 8-7 victory in the second game.
The two victories extended Butler's consecutive winning streak to 52 games.
Butler will next be in action at the three-day Texas Crossover in Beaumont, Texas for six games beginning on Friday. The Grizzlies open up against Tyler (TX) and Paris (TX).
Butler 12, Rose State (OK) 0 - 5 innings
Butler recorded its first run-rule victory since a 17-3 season-opening win over Northeast (TX) back on Jan. 28. The Grizzlies opened the contest with a seven-run first inning as 13 batters came to the plate.
Becca Schulte opened the scoring with an RBI single past Rose State third baseman Erica Martinez, which scored Paige Pacher. Brynn Minor then followed with a three-run home run to deep center to give the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead.
Butler managed to load the bases later in the inning, which allowed the Grizzlies to score three more runs. An RBI single by Nykiah Hines drove in Alexis Reed, then Kenzie Young was hit with a pitch to score Caylie Kifer. Schulte then had a bases-loaded walk to score Hines.
In the fourth, Allison Jurgensen drove in Schulte on a groundout to put Butler up 8-0.
Pinch hitter Tamarah Mascher then finished the Grizzlies' scoring with a grand slam home run to straight-away center. The home run was also Mascher's first hit of the season.
Regan Mergele recorded her fourth win of the season and allowed just one hit in three shutout innings. Mergele also had seven strikeouts in the win, while Celina Sullivan and Brynn Minor each had an inning of relief.
Despite finishing with 10 hits, nobody in the Butler lineup had a multiple-hit game. The Grizzlies also had eight walks in the contest. Paige Pacher and Kenzie Young scored two runs each in the win.
Butler 8, Rose State (OK) 7
The Grizzlies jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning. Becca Schulte drove in the first run with a single to left to score Paige Pacher, then Brynn Minor had an RBI groundout to bring in Kenzie Young from third base. Schulte crossed the plate for Butler's final run of the inning when Alexis Reed singled through the right side of the infield.
Rose State answered with a five-run inning in the bottom-half, scoring all runs with two outs off starter Maddie Siemer. With the bases loaded, Tarah Madron hit an infield single to score Demi Dobbs, then Courtney Hickman followed with a grand-slam home run to center.
Butler was held scoreless for the next three innings before breaking through with three runs in the fifth. Schulte's double to left-center scored Paige Pacher and Kenzie Young to tie the game at 5-5. Three batters later, Darrian Hale hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Schulte to give the Grizzlies the lead.
With Butler up 6-5, Kenzie Young belted a two-run blast to left-center in the sixth to give the Grizzlies some insurance.
Those runs were needed as Rose State scored two runs the bottom of the sixth when an infield pop-up that would hace been a potential third out dropped in.
Regan Mergele, who finished the game by throwing the final six innings, earned her second win of the day by getting two strikeouts and a flyout to end the game. Mergele (5-0) allowed just one hit, walked two and struck out seven.
Paige Pacher led the Grizzly offense by going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored, while Alexis Reed was 3-for-3 at the plate. Kenzie Young and Becca Schulte also had a pair of hits and two RBI each. Young scored three runs in the win.
