Lady Saints No Match For Red Hot Grizzlies

An upset win over the 6^th ranked and red hot Butler Grizzlies just wasn't in the cards for the Seward County Lady Saints Saturday afternoon at East Park in El Dorado.  Butler was slow and steady in game one, scoring in all five innings for an 8-0 win over the Lady Saints while in game two, the Grizzlies used a seven run 5^th for another run rule victory, this time to the tune of a 10-1 contest to sweep the twinbill from Seward. 

Seward had a chance to get on the board early against the Grizzlies in game one, putting two on in the 1^st with two outs, but a strikeout looking ended the threat and little did the Lady Saints know at that time, it would be their best chance in the contest. 

Butler took advantage of their 1^st inning opportunity, plating a pair of runs before their first out to take a 2-0 lead.  The Grizzlies loaded the bases later in the inning, but a fly out to left ended their chances of any more damage as they took a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. 

The Grizzlies added to their lead in the 2^nd with a run and scored two more in the 3^rd to take a 5-0 lead on Seward. 

Seward got a two out single in the 4^th but couldn't score and the Grizzlies continued to push, getting three straight singles to start their half of the inning before plating a pair of runs to take a 7-0 lead.

Jaidyn Mawhinney doubled for Seward around three strikeouts in the top half of the 5^th and Butler put the Lady Saints away in the bottom half, getting a one out walk and a double to the wall to score a run and kick in the run rule with an 8-0 win. 

Butler outhit Seward 12-4 in the game while the Grizzlies struck out nine Lady Saint hitters.  Kelly Kearney took the loss in the circle for Seward, falling to 13-11 on the year as she allowed 12 hits and eight runs, seven earned while walking six and striking out four. 

SEWARD COUNTY/#6 BUTLER GAME ONE BOX SCORE

The Lady Saints took advantage of an early opportunity in game two as Kennedy Brunson singled to start the Seward 1^st and stole second before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt with one out.  Kristyna Garcia singled up the middle to bring Brunson home and Seward had their first lead of the day 1-0 after ½ inning of action. 

The Lady Saints lead didn't last long though as an error began the bottom half of the 1^st inning and two unearned runs scored after the defensive miscue to give the Grizzlies a 2-1 advantage. 

Both teams went down in order in the 2^nd and the Lady Saints went 1-2-3 again in the 3^rd as Butler continued to lead 2-1. 

The Grizzlies added to their lead in the bottom half of the 3^rd, getting a pair of singles and a pair of walks to plate a run before a double play ended the frame to make it a 3-1 game. 

The Seward bats remained ice cold in the 4^th and 5^th as the Lady Saints were retired swiftly in the 4^th and struck out three straight times in the 5^th to keep it a 3-1 contest.

With the game still within reach for the Lady Saints in the 5^th, the Grizzlies exploded in the bottom of the inning to no longer make that the case.  Back to back Butler hits to start the inning and another Seward error allowed the Grizzlies to plate a run to make it a 4-1 game.  A sacrifice fly made it a 5-1 game, but gave the Lady Saints two outs in the inning, still in the game.  A wild pitch made it 6-1 and an RBI double followed by an RBI single for the Grizzlies extended their lead to 8-1.  Needing one out to keep the game going, the Lady Saints couldn't get it.  Butler catcher Morgan Wurts lifted a two run home run to left field, kicking in the run rule with the Lady Saints on the field for the second time on the day in a 10-1 Grizzly win. 

Seward's offense was again non-existent in the loss, managing just two hits in the contest while Butler pounded out 11 in the five inning win. 

Jaidyn Mahwhinney suffered the loss on the rubber for Seward, allowing 11 Butler hits and 10 Grizzly runs while walking four and striking out one to fall to 10-11 on the year. 

SEWARD COUNTY/#6 BUTLER GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Seward sees a mini four game winning streak come to an end with the losses, dropping to 24-28 overall on the year while watching the Jayhawk West record dip to 7-13 where they sit 5^th with four games left to go.  Butler has now won 24 straight, improving to 39-4 on the year and 19-1 in conference action where they continue to hold down the top spot.

Next up for Seward is their 2016 home finale as they take on the Colby Lady Trojans at 2:00 Tuesday at Lady Saints Field in Liberal.