For the first time since 2005, the Dodge City softball team has beaten Butler as the Conquistadors split a KJCCC doubleheader in El Dorado falling 4-1 in game one but responding with a 7-6 game two victory.
The win moves the Conqs to 15-13 on the season and 8-4 in conference play as the Conqs have won nine of their last 10 games. The victory also snaps a 48-game losing streak in the series with Butler.
The Conqs will look to build upon the big win as they square off with Hutchinson on Saturday, March 22nd on the road for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm.
Game 1 – Lost 4-1 at Butler
The Conqs would fall behind early surrendering a run in the bottom of the first to the Grizzlies of Butler but answered in the top of the second as
Anistyn Marcotte belted a solo home run. In the bottom of the second inning, Butler countered with two three runs to lead 4-1. The Conqs' chances of scoring were limited the rest of the way while the Conqs would keep Butler off the board they would be unable to score falling 4-1 to #15 Butler.
The Conqs had just four hits in the loss as Marcotte,
Karen Galaviz,
Josie Oakley, and
Jordyn Boxberger each registered a hit in the ball game.
In the circle,
Frankie Martens was solid as the starter tossing 3.1 innings giving up four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one.
Shyann Clark tossed 2.2 scoreless innings of relief giving up just one hit.
Game 2 – Won 7-6 at Butler
After a tough loss in game one, the Conqs got the offense going early in game two and took the initial lead of the contest as
Whitley Cash had an RBI single to bring in Galaviz in the first inning. Butler answered in the bottom of the first drawing even with a run of their own. The top of the second would see the Conqs capitalize on two Butler errors scoring a pair of runs and then getting an RBI double by Marcotte to make it 4-1. In the third Butler would tally a pair of runs and then score two more in the fifth to tie the game and then take a 5-4 lead. The Conqs worked the bases loaded in the sixth on a
Riley Moore double and walks drawn by
Campbell Anderson and
Kloe Nelson and then Moore scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 5-5. After a double play, the Conqs would get a two-out two-RBI single by Cash to give them the 7-5 lead. The Conqs would hold Butler off the scoreboard in the sixth and after a scoreless top of the seventh looked to get three outs for the win. The Conqs corralled two quick outs, but Butler got a single and then a wild pitch advanced the runner to second and another single made it a one-run game at 7-6. The Conqs would induce a fly out to centerfield with the next batter and earn the 7-6 win.
In the circle, Clark earned the win in relief tossing 4.2 innings giving up just three runs on six hits, no walks, and three hit batters while striking out one. Boxberger tossed 2.1 innings giving up three runs.
Cash paced the Conqs offense as she had the only multi-hit game going 3-4 with three RBI, while Marcotte,
Elly Tancayo, and Moore each had a hit. Galaviz drew a pair of walks and scored two runs.
