Barton Forces Series Split as Grizzly Pitching Struggles in Great Bend

GREAT BEND, Kan. – Butler baseball was handed two tough losses by the 23rd ranked Barton Cougars at Lawson-Biggs Field on Saturday afternoon.

Game one saw the Grizzlies (17-13, 9-7) lose 14-4 in a five-inning run rule while game two was more of the same as Barton (20-8, 12-4) took down Butler 16-3.

After Butler's offensive explosion in the sweep of the Cougars on Thursday at McDonald Stadium, Barton was the one on the winning end Saturday as they forced a series split. The Cougars racked up 30 runs on 29 hits while holding Butler to seven runs on 13 hits.

The Cougars plated seven runs in the bottom of the first inning in game one, chasing starting pitcher Caden Hinther (L, 1-3) and immediately jumping out to a large lead. They used seven more runs in the fifth inning to complete the 14-4 win after Butler pulled within 7-4 in the fourth inning. Butler went through four pitchers in the game with Kage Ralstin throwing the most, 4.0 innings allowing just two runs on five hits striking out one and walking one. Holden Lough led the Grizzly offense driving in three runs. Barton had five players finish with multi-hit games while Owen Pote (W, 4-2) threw a complete game allowing four runs, striking out three and walking one.

Butler was the first to grab a lead in game two taking a 1-0 lead in the first. Barton scored twice in the second to lead 2-1 but Butler responded with a run in the tip of the third, tying the game 2-2. Barton scored 10 runs across the third and fourth innings to separate from the Grizzlies. Butler used six pitchers in the contest with starter Whitley Rhodes (L, 1-1) suffering the loss allowing five earned runs across 3.1 innings. Barton's Cesar Gomez, Kyle Walker and John Connors each drove in three runs while starting pitcher Ethan Minaker (W, 2-2) threw 5.0 innings striking out seven.

TOP PERFORMERS GAME 1:

Holden Lough (Spring Hill, KS): 1-3, 3 RBI, HR

Brandt Beeby (Tulsa, OK): 1-2, RBI, HR

Kage Ralstin (Elkhart, KS): 4.0 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 K

TOP PERFORMERS GAME 2:

Jaden Rose (Overland Park, KS): 2-4, 2 R, 2B

Cooper Rasmussen (Temecula, CA): 2-4, R

Brandt Beeby (Tulsa, OK): 1-3, RBI, 2 SB

Bradyn McClure (Wichita, KS): 1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 K's, 0 BB

NEXT UP:

Butler hosts Kansas City Kansas Community College in a non-conference contest on Tuesday at McDonald Stadium, first pitch at 3 p.m.