Grizzly Softball Continues Hot Start, Sweeps Otero

LA JUNTA, Colo. – Butler softball continues its hot start in Colorado, sweeping Otero College 10-2 and 9-4 at Tippy Martinez Softball Field on Thursday.

The Grizzlies (4-0) completed their Colorado trip with four wins including two over Otero (0-2) on their home field. Butler returns to action on Friday, Feb. 16th, in Lufkin, Texas, taking on Monroe College and Angelina College over a two-day span.

Game 1: No. 15 Butler 10, Otero 2

Butler got its second run rule win of the Colorado trip with a 10-2 win over Otero in game one of the doubleheader.

The Grizzlies got the scoring started immediately in the top of the first.

Sophomore leftfielder JaKeyla McDaniel got on with an infield single and freshman third baseman Kim Yepez reached on an error by a third baseman. They each moved up a base on a passed ball with sophomore catcher Cady Dickey at the plate. Dickey delivered with a two-run single through the right side to put the Grizzlies ahead 2-0.

Otero responded with a run in the bottom half, making it 2-1.

Freshman pitcher Chloe Odle was extremely impressive for Butler in her second collegiate start, totaling 14 strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched, allowing just one earned run and walking just two.

The Grizzlies blew the game open in the final three innings. They scored a combined eight runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth including five in the fifth. Four of the runs in the fifth came courtesy of freshman first baseman Calyee Mann who drilled a grand slam for her first collegiate home run.

Dickey finished with three hits and two RBI, sophomore right fielder Mallory Young had two hits and a walk, and sophomore shortstop Aly Hageman drove in two runs off a triple.

Otero was hampered by five errors. Starting pitcher Kayla Crocker (L, 0-1) allowed six runs on seven hits in her 4.1 innings pitched.  

Game 2: No. 15 Butler 9, Otero 4

Butler completed the doubleheader with a 9-4 win, slugging their way to victory.

Otero got out to a 3-1 lead after the first inning, jumping on the Grizzlies early.

Mann delivered with an RBI single in the top of the fourth, tying the game at three. In the fifth, Dickey scored Cardona on an RBI double to give Butler a 4-3 lead. Freshman pitcher Addy Ewing put Otero down in order in the bottom of the fifth with Butler holding the 4-3 lead.

Hageman led the sixth off with a triple off the right field wall and McDaniel scored her with an RBI double to make it 5-3. Freshman second baseman Claire Lopez drove in McDaniel with an RBI triple of her own to put Butler ahead 6-3.

The offensive onslaught in the sixth did not stop there as Yepez and Dickey proceeded to hit back-to-back solo home runs and the Grizzlies led 9-3.

Cheyenne Handsaker got the start for Butler, throwing 3.0 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, striking out one and walking two. Ewing (W, 1-0) threw the final 4.0, allowing a lone run on four hits. She struck out one and walked none.

Otero used three pitchers. Jaelyn Montoya (L, 0-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering four runs in one inning of work. Starting pitcher Keira Gray threw 5.0 innings allowing three earned runs on six hits, striking out eight. Right fielder Vicky Alvarado led the Rattlers with two hits and two RBI.