Grizzlies wrap up regular season with doubleheader sweep over Cowley
Butler softball closed out the regular season Monday evening with the doubleheader sweep over the Cowley Tigers finishing the year with two shutout wins and extending their win streak to 39 games.
With the 6-0 and 8-0 victories, Butler finishes the regular season 43-2 overall and 26-0 in KJCCC play and were a perfect 20-0 in home games this season at East Park.
Butler kept the Tigers caged offensively as the duo of Izzy Erickson and Maddie Redman with the help of Kelcie Kippes allowed just six total hits in the doubleheader. The Butler bats mustered up 22 hits on the day, 10 in game one and 12 hits in game two.
Game one featured Izzy Erickson picking up the three-hit shutout victory in a 6-0 win. Erickson struck out nine in the contest while not giving up a walk with just three hits.
Shayna Espy drove in two runs in the game with a homerun and a double. Mariah Wheeler also had two RBI's in the game finishing 3-2 at the plate.
Maddie Redman kept her record perfect picking up win number 19 on the season in game two with the 8-0 shutout victory. Redman struck out four batters without allowing a walk and just two hits. Kelcie Kippes closed it out in the top of the fifth giving up just one hit without any runs.
Madi Young, one of the best offensive players in the country in a number of categories, finished 2-2 in game two with an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Shayna Espy went 2-3 with two runs scored and a triple capping of her day 4-7 at the plate hitting the doubleheader cycle. Ari Cordova was 3-3 at the plate with two RBI's and a run scored. Emily Adler and Hannah Knox each had a double in the game.
Butler will now look to the postseason where they will try and keep their winning streak alive this weekend in Dodge City at the Region VI Tournament at Legends Park. Butler will play Dodge City on Friday night, time has yet to be announced. The Grizzlies will look to win their fifth straight Region VI tournament title and 11th overall in program history.
The winner of the Region VI tournament will host the winner of Region IX in a best of three Plains District series on May 17-18. Winner of the Plains District will advance to the NJCAA National Tournament in Yuma, AZ.