Grizzlies split with Blue Dragons in home opener
The Butler Grizzlies bounced back from an incredibly rare loss at home, 6-5, their first loss at East Park in nearly two years, with an emphatic 8-0 win in the second game of the doubleheader with the Hutchinson Blue Dragons, in the Grizzlies' home opener on Saturday.
Game One
The Grizzlies lost their first game of the year in an absolute battle with the Dragons in the first game. Hutch jumped out to a six run lead, and hung on after Butler scored five unanswered. Butler left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning with the chance to win the game in walk off fashion. Madi Young and Reese Briggs both hit home runs to carry the Grizzlies.
Game Two
The Grizzly bats woke up in the second game. Butler responded to the first blemish on their record by promptly defeating the Blue Dragons in run rule fashion, scoring eight runs on nine hits. Emily Adler, Ari Cordova, and Gianna De Luca-Paape all went yard on the day, and Emily's twin sister Sydney would be responsible for the two RBIs that would end the game in the bottom of the fifth.
Allyson Montgomery was nearly perfect for the Grizzlies on the mound, giving up only one hit and striking out eight batters, pitching the complete game shutout to earn her fifth win of the season.
The doubleheader split will put the Grizzlies at 10-1 on the year, and 2-1 in conference play. They'll head to Hesston for a double header with the Larks before returning to East Park on Wednesday for a double header against the Colby Bluejays.
