EL DORADO, Kan. – Butler softball hosted Barton in its 2024 home opener on Thursday and came away with a doubleheader split after falling 10-4 in the first game and winning 10-2 in the second.
Butler (11-3, 3-1 KJCCC) lost its first game to Barton at East Park since 2019 as the Cougars (5-7, 3-1) snapped a seven-game losing streak in El Dorado.
The Grizzlies return to action on Saturday as they host Northwest Tech for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
Game 1: Barton 10, Butler 4
With the game tied 2-2 heading to the fifth inning, a six-run inning for the Cougars proved costly as they were able to top the Grizzlies 10-4.
Cheyenne Handsaker had a strong showing in the circle for Butler, holding Barton off the scoreboard for the first three innings. She exited the game in the fifth inning but was ultimately re-inserted in the same inning. Handsaker threw 7.0 innings allowing six runs (four earned), striking out seven and walking one.
Butler brought across two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. Kory Schoenfeld laced a single to right center scoring Aly Hageman and Chloe Cardona later hit a single to right that scored Schoenfeld, making it 2-2 in the fourth.
Schoenfeld later hit a two-run single through the right side in the fifth, trimming Barton's lead to 8-4.
Schoenfeld led Butler with three runs driven in on two hits. Kyrsten Moran and Aly Hageman also had two hits. Hageman scored two runs.
Game 2: Butler 10, Barton 2 (5 inn.)
Following the loss in game one, Butler stormed back to defeat Barton 10-2 in five innings for a run-rule victory.
The Grizzlies got out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning. Cady Dickey smashed a three-run home run to center field and then a Cougar error and a bases loaded walk helped the lead grow to 5-0.
Chloe Odle (W, 4-2) got the start in the circle picking up the win in 5.0 innings pitched. She allowed two runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
Barton countered with a two-run home run in the top of the second from Aly Lawrence, their only runs of the game. The Cougars used three pitchers in the contest with all three seeing time in the first inning.
Aly Hageman had a huge game at the plate hitting solo home runs in the second and fourth innings. She later smoked an RBI double off the right-center field fence in the fifth inning to end the game at 10-2.
Dickey had two hits with three RBI while Kyrsten Moran and Chloe Cardona each had a hit and an RBI.
