Butler Swept at Cloud County

CONCORDIA, Kan. – Butler baseball traveled to Lee Doyen Field on Thursday and suffered a sweep at the hands of the 23rd ranked Cloud County Thunderbirds.

Butler (23-20, 14-12) fell 8-4 in game one and 10-0 in a seven-inning run rule in game two as the T-Birds (33-11, 17-5) moved to 17-3 in home games.

Game one saw Butler muster just four hits being outhit 14-4 as Cloud County scored multiple runs in three separate innings. Butler found itself in an early 5-1 hole in the second inning. They pulled within 5-4 in the fourth, but Cloud used a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to complete the win. Butler started Maddux Schrupp (L, 2-2) and he allowed five runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking none in his second loss of the season. Caden Hinther threw the final 4.0 innings allowing three runs on six hits. Matthew Evans and Joey Marino had three hits each for the T-Birds.

The Grizzlies had just four hits again in game two being outhit 13-4, losing 10-0 in a run rule. Butler used three pitchers with starter Kage Ralstin (L, 0-1) suffering his first loss of the season throwing 4.1 innings allowing seven runs (four earned) on nine hits, striking out two and walking one. He allowed three home runs. Jackson Ellison led Butler at the plate finishing 2-3. Evans was 4-4 with three RBI and Cam MaCleod was 3-4 with four RBI for Cloud County.

TOP PERFORMERS GAME 1:

Cooper Rasmussen (Temecula, CA): 1-4, RBI, R, 2B

Breck Romero (Montgomery, TX): 1-3, RBI, R

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

TOP PERFORMERS GAME 2:

Jackson Ellison (Wichita, KS): 2-3

NEXT UP:

The series shifts to McDonald Stadium on Friday with first pitch at 1 p.m.