WESTFIELD, Ind. – Butler and Western Michigan split a doubleheader on Saturday at Grand Park. Western Michigan found the win column in game one 2-1 and Butler would bounce back with a 10-0 victory in the nightcap.
Pitching was the story in game one with the Broncos picking up a 2-1 win. WMU starter Chris Modrzynski only allowed three hits over 6.1 innings of action. He was credited with the win and Will Mullen would get the save.
The Broncos scored two runs in the third to take the lead. Devine found room on a soft hit up the middle of the diamond and he would move into scoring position on a sac bunt. The next Bronco batter would double to right centerfield to score the first run of the contest. A single to center would follow giving WMU two runs off four total hits.
The first game would tighten up in the ninth with Butler getting back-to-back hits from
Connor Christman and
Zach Jarosz. Christman sent a ball to centerfield and Jarosz followed with a shot to right.
Kyle Smith recorded the only RBI of the game for BU by sending a ball back up the middle of the field to score Wirges. Wirges previously entered the game as a pinch-runner.
Western Michigan made a pitching change with Butler threatening. The strategy paid off as Mullen got McGrath to hit a high chopper to shortstop. Smith got a great jump running to second base and looked to be safe, but the official call was out to end the game at 2-1.
Butler wouldn't let a tough loss ruin their day as they came back to claim a 10-0 win in game two. BU had as many home runs as WMU had hits in the second part of the doubleheader. Smith, McCargar and Freed all had balls leave the playing field to help BU even the series. Smith went yard in his first at-bat as the lead-off man and Freed would add a triple to his 3-for-4 day from the plate.
BU tallied 15 total hits and the run support would be appreciated by starter
Sam Hubbe. The senior right-hander improved to 3-0 by lasting seven full innings and striking out eight batters. He limited WMU to just two hits and only walked one.
Greg Gilbert threw the eighth and
Austin Waeghe would enter for the ninth.
These two teams will meet again tomorrow at Bulldog Park. The final game of the weekend will get underway at 1 PM.
