Grizzlies Drop 2 Close Games to DMACC in Home Opener

EL DORADO, Kan. – Butler baseball played at McDonald Stadium for the first time in the 2024 season and dropped two close contests to the Des Moines Area CC Bears on Friday afternoon.

Butler (7-5) brought the game winning run to the plate in the seventh inning of both games but DMACC (8-6) was able to thwart the Grizzlies from getting in the win column at home.

Game 1: DMACC 7, Butler 5

In a game that was back-and-forth through the first four innings, a 5-spot in the fifth for the Bears gave them a 7-3 lead that Butler could not overcome.

DMACC took a 1-0 lead in the second off a wild pitch. In the third inning, Butler's Garrett Fager and CJ Reid hit back-to-back solo home runs to put the Grizzlies back ahead 2-1.

The Bears tied it 2-2 in the top of the fourth on another wild pitch. Fager gave the Grizzlies back the lead in the bottom half on a single to left center that scored Brock Toothaker.

Two home runs in the fifth did the Grizzlies in. The Bears' Dillon Kuehl and Kaden Frommelt each hit two run home runs and Jaylen Ziegler singled up the middle to score another run, giving them a 7-3 lead.

Anibal Rivera hit a two-run single to center in the sixth to make it a 7-5 DMACC lead but it was all Butler could muster the rest of the way. The Grizzlies had two runners on in the seventh with Fager at the plate as the game winning run but he struck out for the final out.

Fager had two hits, two RBI, two walks and two runs scored. Toothaker had three hits as well as scoring a run.

Caden Kickhaefer (L, 2-1) was saddled with the loss as he threw 4.0 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits. He struck out eight and walked five. DMACC's Ty Madison (W, 3-1) threw 4.0 innings allowing three earned runs, striking out four.

Game 2: DMACC 10, Butler 9

For the second straight game Buter brought the game winning run to the plate in the seventh inning. The Grizzlies had the bases loaded but Cole Murrell struck out swinging for the final out of the game s DMACC won it 10-9 to earn the doubleheader sweep on Friday.

The Grizzlies were losing 10-3 following a four run sixth inning from DMACC. Butler then plated four of their own in the sixth to make it a 10-7 game. DMACC went through four pitchers in the inning as the four runs from Butler came via two bases loaded walks and two bases loaded hit-by-pitches.

Jack Laird threw a scoreless seventh for Butler, striking out the side and bringing Butler to their last bats trailing by three.

A Justin Hudson RBI ground out and Taber Stokes RBI single up the middle made it 10-9 but Butler got no closer.

The Grizzlies were outhit 14-6 in the game. Bear starting pitcher JC Dermody (W, 1-1) tossed 5.0 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits. He struck out six and walked one. Bradyn McClure (L, 1-1) was hit with the loss for Butler as he threw 4.0 innings allowing four runs (two earned). McClure struck out seven and walked none.