Lady Saints Shock #1 Butler

Sometimes a split is more than just a split on the softball diamond.  That was the case Wednesday afternoon in El Dorado, Kansas as the Seward County Lady Saints went on the road to race their arch rivals, the #1 ranked Butler Grizzlies.  After taking an early 2-0 lead and looking good in the first game of the double header, Seward saw their lead quickly erased by the Grizzlies and watched as Butler scored 10 unanswered runs to win 10-2.  However, in game two they came out firing and took another early 2-0 lead in the 1^st and continued to add on until they took a 6-0 lead after 4.  This time Seward would hold the lead and after adding an insurance run late, the Lady Saints pulled off the 7-1 win over the Grizzlies, snapping an 11 game losing streak to Butler and also earning their first win over a #1 ranked team in program history. 

Offense was hard to come by in game one of the doubleheader as Seward managed just a two out single in the 1^st through two innings while Lady Saints starter Brittany Hopkins retired Butler in order in the 1^st and 2^nd innings to keep the game scoreless into the 3^rd. 

The first two Seward hitters in their half of the 3^rd were retired quickly, but Andrea Sitter kept the inning alive with a two out infield single to get Pokey Ewell to the plate.  On the second pitch she saw, Ewell drilled the 0-1 offering over the left field fence and off of the scoreboard for a two run home run to give the Lady Saints a 2-0 lead. 

Butler broke through as well in their half of the 3^rd, getting a pair of two out singles and a stolen base to cut the Seward lead to 2-1 before Lady Saints catcher Vanessa Oakden gunned down a would be base stealer to end the inning and keep the gals in green in front by one. 

After a quick top of the 4^th for the Lady Saints, Butler was back at it in the bottom of the frame.  A leadoff single and stolen base followed by a one out single tied the game at 2 and later in the inning a Seward error proved costly as Butler put up another run to take their first lead of the game at 3-2. 

Seward had a chance to respond as they came to hit in the 5^th, putting runners on the corners with just one out, but a fly out didn't get the job done on their first try and a line drive ended the threat and the inning as they remained behind 3-2.

Butler was able to get another tally in the 5^th after a pair of singles to start the inning and a one out groundball to push the run home to make it 4-2. 

Seward was unable to stop any of the Butler momentum in the top half of the 6^th as they were retired on just nine pitches as they remained behind the Grizzlies 4-2. 

The Lady Saints imploded in the bottom half of the 6^th as they committed two errors to extend the inning and allow Butler to go in front 7-2.  A Grizzly single with one out in the inning scored two more to make it 9-2 before two walks loaded the bases and a third consecutive walk pushed home the winning run as just like that Butler ended the game 10-2 in a run rule. 

Butler outhit Seward 10-5 in the contest.  Five different Lady Saints had hits in the loss including Ewell who was 1 for 3 with a home run and 2 RBI's.  Hopkins suffered the loss in the circle for Seward.  She went the distance, but allowed 10 hits and 10 runs, 7 earned, while walking 5 without striking out a batter.  She falls to 14-4 on the year. 

SEWARD COUNTY/#1 BUTLER GAME ONE BOX SCORE

The Lady Saints equaled their game one production on just three swings in the top half of the 1^st inning of game two of the double header as Sitter, Ewell, and Becky Allen each doubled on the first pitch they saw to start the game, scoring two runs to give Seward the quick 2-0 advantage. 

Seward starter Katelyn Craker kept Butler at bay for the first two innings, working around a two out walk in the 1^st and around a leadoff double in the 2^nd to keep the Lady Saints in front 2-0. 

The Lady Saints took advantage of Butler's kindness in the top of the 3^rd inning, using a beanball, a walk, and two Grizzly errors to score twice to stretch their lead to 4-0. 

Craker kept the Lady Saints right there after a quick 3^rd and Seward added to their lead as the 4^th inning hit when Felisha Vogelaar got a bunt single to start the inning and Ewell reached on a Butler error before a triple down the right field line off the bat of Allen scored them both to put Seward County on top 6-0. 

Butler finally got on the board in the 4^th with a two out solo home run, but Craker limited the damage to that to keep it a 6-1 game after 4. 

The Grizzlies next scoring chance came in the bottom of the 6^th inning when they put two on with one out, but Craker got a huge strikeout followed by a fly out to end the threat and the inning to keep Seward in front 6-1. 

In the 7^th the Lady Saints again used Butler's defense against them as the Grizzlies committed their fifth error of the game to allow the Lady Saints to add an insurance tally to make it 7-1. 

Against a powerful Butler lineup, Seward wasn't out of the woods yet after watching the Grizzlies score six in the 6^th inning of game one to win 10-2.  But that wouldn't happen in this one as Butler got a leadoff double, but wasn't even able to score her as Craker slammed the door on the #1 Grizzlies and hammered down a 7-1 win for Seward County. 

Seward outslugged Butler 9-4 in the hit column in game two of the double header and the Lady Saints committed just 1 error to Butler's 5.  Marissa Chavez finished 3 for 4 with 2 RBI's for Seward in the win while Allen was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI's and 2 runs scored.  Craker improved her 2014 record to 16-2 with the win over the Grizzlies.  The sophomore southpaw went all 7 innings, allowing just 5 hits and 1 run to the nation's top ranked team.  Craker struck out 6 and walked 3 in the victory. 

SEWARD COUNTY/#1 BUTLER GAME TWO BOX SCORE

After Butler snapped Seward's 10 game win streak in game one of the doubleheader, the Lady Saints returned the favor, snapping the Grizzlies 15 game win streak in game two.  The win in game two for Seward was their first in program history over a #1 ranked team. 

The Lady Saints move to 33-8 overall and 7-3 in Jayhawk West Conference play with the split while Butler goes to 19-4 overall and 5-1 in league action. 

Next up for Seward is a home date on Saturday at Lady Saints Field in Liberal when they host Lamar at 1:00 in a return trip of their home and home series with the Lopes.