Butler Community College continued their impressive day and season with a commanding 18-4 win over Garden City Community College after a 22-3 win in the first game. The Grizzlies’ offense was on full display as they piled on 18 runs, thanks to a relentless attack that kept the Garden City defense on their heels throughout the game.
The Grizzlies’ offensive surge was led by Claire Lopez, who contributed two hits and two RBIs, and Graci Hock, whose four RBIs, including a home run, helped to put the game out of reach early. Lopez, a key player in Butler's success, also stole two bases and scored three times, showing off her speed and offensive awareness. Meanwhile, Kyler Demel brought in three RBIs of her own, rounding out a balanced, dangerous lineup that was too much for Garden City to handle.
Butler's pitchers also had a great day, with Chloe Odle getting the win after three strong innings. Odle allowed just three earned runs and struck out two, showing control and composure in a game that quickly got out of hand. Addy Ewing came in and shut down Garden City for the final two innings and allowed just one run on one hit. The Grizzlies’ pitching staff was efficient and did not give Garden City many opportunities to get back into the game.
Garden City’s defense struggled, committing mistakes, which allowed Butler to capitalize on additional plays. The Grizzlies were able to take full advantage of these miscues, tacking on extra runs that made the game get out of hand. Butler’s aggressive base running, led by Lopez and Kyrsten Moran, added some more pressure on the Garden City defense, forcing them to make plays under duress.
This win puts Butler's record at 32-6, 21-5 in conference play, continuing their push toward a strong finish to the regular season. Their consistency on both sides of the ball makes them a dangerous team as they prepare for the following challenges. The Grizzlies play at home at East Park on Tuesday, April 22 at 1 and 3 p.m. against the Barton Cougars.