Ellison’s Walk-Off Salvages Series

EL DORADO, Kan. – Freshman infielder Jackson Ellison saved the day for Butler baseball at McDonald Stadium on Friday as his walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth gave Butler a 7-6 win over Cloud County in game two as they avoided the series sweep.

Butler (24-21, 15-13) won the fourth and final game of the series over the T-Birds (34-12, 18-6) who took the series from Butler, 3-1.

Cloud County won game one 9-5 fueled by a four run second inning. Cloud built a 6-1 lead in the top of the third but Butler pulled within 7-4 in the fifth, the closest they got. Grizzly starting pitcher Shane Holman (L, 7-1) took his first loss of the season allowing seven runs on nine hits, striking out seven and walking out seven. Dayton Pelfrey tossed the last 2.0 innings allowing two runs on four hits with a strikeout. Cloud used three pitchers with starter Noah Bourgeois (W, 5-1) earning the win allowing four runs in 4.2 innings of work. Joey Marino and Nolan Freund each had three hit performances for Cloud while Gannon White had four RBI. Butler was outhit 13-6 in the game while neither team made an error.

Ellison's double in the ninth inning sent Butler to a 7-6 win in nine innings in game two. The freshman finished 3-5 with four RBI and two runs scored hitting a home run and a double. Cloud County led 6-0 in the fifth inning before the Grizzlies brought a run home in the bottom of the fifth. The Grizzlies used two runs in the sixth and three in the eighth to tie the game at six. Bradyn McClure (W, 4-2) threw the final 1.2 innings without allowing a hit or run, striking out one. Whitley Rhodes got the start for Butler throwing 4.0 innings allowing four runs on six hits, striking out three and walking two. T-Bird starter Cole Linton threw 7.1 innings allowing three earned runs (five total runs) on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Cloud then used four pitchers over the final inning.

BSB vs Cloud (G4)

WALK IT OFF @Jellison2024‼️‼️@Buco_Baseball defeats Cloud 7-6 in come from behind fashion!! pic.twitter.com/NFfF7VTxam

— Butler Grizzlies (@ButlerGrizzlies) April 19, 2025

TOP PERFORMERS GAME 1:

Jaden Rose (Overland Park, KS): 1-3, 2 R, BB

Cooper Rasmussen (Temecula, CA): 2-3, 2 R, RBI, HR, BB

Jackson Ellison (Wichita, KS): 1-2, R, BB, 2B

Alex Coester (Girard, KS): 1-2, 2 RBI

TOP PERFORMERS GAME 2:

Jackson Ellison (Wichita, KS): 3-5, 4 RBI, 2 R, HR, 2B

Alex Coester (Girard, KS): 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 2B

Amarion Sailer (Rapid City, SD): 1-3, 2 R, RBI, HR, BB

NEXT UP:

Butler will host the Cowley Tigers in a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at McDonald Stadium.