Cougars lose at Butler; Brown Mackie games cancelled
The Barton Community College softball team dropped two games to Butler in Region VI play Wednesday afternoon in El Dorado. Butler won the opener by an 11-1 score then captured a 5-0 win in the nightcap. Barton is now 8-27 overall and 1-11 in the region. Butler is currently 2nd in the region to Seward. The Grizzlies are 7-3 and 36-10 overall. Barton was schedule to play Brown Mackie today in Salina but that contest has been cancelled. Barton will wind up its regular season over the next week-plus with three doubleheaders. Barton will host the top two teams in the West – Butler and Seward – next week to wrap up region play then host McCook (Neb) for a twinbill May 3.

Highlights
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st to open play Wednesday following 3 hits from the first 4 batters to come the plate. It didn't stay close long, though. Butler scored 3 in the bottom of the 1st and 5 more in the 2nd for an 8-1 lead. From there Butler finished the game off in 5 innings by the run rule at 11-1. Barton ended the opening game with 7 hits – just 4 after the opening inning.

That was the total hits for Barton in the 2nd game – four – as Butler shutout the Cougars. Barton was in the contest all the way until the bottom of the 6th, however. Much like the losses at Seward last week to the No. 12 ranked Saints and West leader, Barton's pitching kept them in the contest. Butler took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd and moved it to 2-0 in the 5th. The Grizzlies didn't put things away until a 3-run bottom of the 6th gave Butler a 5-0 lead heading into Barton's final at bat. Karen Harris was the tough-luck loser in the game, allowing just 7 hits and walking 2.

The Cougars were slated to go to Salina today to play Brown Mackie but that contest has been cancelled due to the rains that swept through Salina Thursday. Barton will face Butler again the next time the Cougars take the field, this time in Great Bend. Butler will come to Cougar Fields Tuesday for a 3 pm doubleheader. Barton will host Seward Friday in a 3 pm start for a twinbill as well to wrap up Region VI regular season play. The Cougars are schedule to finish the regular season May 3 when McCook comes to Great Bend. Region VI post season play will be May 7-8 in Wichita.

Stats
Stats can be found at www.bartonccc.edu/sports

Next
April 27 – v Butler 3 pm (Region VI doubleheader at Cougar Fields in Great Bend)