grizzlies bounce back after losing streak

The Grizzlies were on a three-game losing streak against the Northeast Hawks, so this opposition against the Des Moines Area Community College was a must win. They had two games at the McDonald Stadium to close out the end of the month on Friday, Feb. 28.  

Butler's pitching staff combined for a solid performance, with redshirt sophomore Caden Hinther earning the win and freshman Van Haneberg earning the save after coming in for the final two innings. The lone home run of the game came from Butler's freshman outfielder Jaden Rose, who added a critical RBI as the game moved into its latter stages. 

The Grizzlies were clearly the dominant team as Des Moines’ offensive struggles were highlighted, but they were able to muster enough to keep the game close. Matt Rivers and Blake Crancer each had an RBI, but the team was unable to string together consistent hits, managing only three in the game. Ty Thomson pitched six innings but was tagged for three earned runs, with 10 strikeouts and three wild pitches contributing to the difficulty. His performance was strong, but he lacked offensive support, and Butler capitalized on timely hitting. 

In the second game, Des Moines offense had a noticeable improvement over the first game, with the team racking up seven runs and eight hits. Crancer delivered an outstanding performance with a home run and three RBIs, while Colin Driscoll contributed two RBIs with a pair of hits. Despite their offensive surge, Des Moines couldn’t overcome the late-game offense from Butler, which scored six runs in the second inning to take back control.  

Butler answered with a balanced offensive attack led by Rose, who added another home run in this game, and redshirt freshman infielder  Alex Coester, who drove in two RBIs. Freshman infielder Holden Lough and redshirt sophomore Brandon Latter also had productive days at the plate, with both players chipping in with two RBIs each. 

Both teams showed flashes of brilliance, but the Grizzlies’ consistent pitching and timely hitting earned them the sweep for the doubleheader. There was an improvement in Des Moines’ offensive approach despite the losses, and they should focus on tightening up the fundamentals as they head into the next stretch of games.  

The Grizzlies will be on the road Thursday, March 6 in a doubleheader opposing Garden city Community College at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.