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Butler 5-0 in Texas

LONGVIEW, Texas - The Butler softball team rolled through a weather-shortened weekend in Texas, going 5-0 with four of the games decided by run-rule at the Longview Classic.
Butler was scheduled to play seven games over a three-day span, but instead played just five games with two on Friday and three on Saturday. Sunday's games were cancelled due to weather.
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The Grizzlies, ranked sixth nationally, got off to a big start on Friday, beating Bossier Parish (La.) 16-2 in five innings and then shelled No. 7 Galveston (Texas) 11-1 in five innings.
On Saturday, Butler defeated No. 13 Navarro by a 7-2 score, routed North East Texas 13-1 and finished the event with an 8-0 run-rule victory over Kilgore (Texas).
With the five wins, Butler improves to 9-3 on the season, including a 3-1 record against nationally-ranked teams. The Grizzlies are scheduled to play Wednesday at Seward County, which would be the Jayhawk West Conference opener.
Butler 16, Bossier Parish 2 (5 innings)
Butler established its dominance early in the first game of the tournament, putting up a season-best 14 runs in the first inning. The Grizzlies would add solo runs in the second and fourth innings.
Kate James drove in four runs in the game, including two on a triple in the first inning. She also had a sacrifice fly in the second inning to drive in another run. Carly Farmer, Joselyn Dean, Jillian Navarrete and Sydney Eck all drove in two runs apiece.
Butler's starting pitcher Jayde Hansen earned her first victory, throwing three perfect innings with a pair of strikeouts. Abbie Clanton pitched the final two innings, allowing a pair of unearned runs.
Butler 11, Galveston 1 (6 innings)
A week earlier in Temple, Butler needed a game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Galveston by a 6-5 score. This time, those kind of heroics weren't needed.
Butler scored in all but one inning in the game, even though all 12 hits were singles. The Grizzlies ran wild on the base paths, stealing eight bases in the contest.
Sydney Eck earned the win for Butler, improving to 5-3 on the season. She threw a complete game, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out five.
Butler 7, Navarro 2
In the only game of the tournament that lasted the full seven innings, the Grizzlies still cruised past Navarro in the opening game of Saturday's action.
Butler scored three runs in the bottom of the first, including one on a sacrifice fly by Joselyn Dean and another on a single by Ashton Atwell.
Butler then put up four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Joselyn Dean drove in two more runs with a single up the middle, while Kendra Houston and A'Liyah Rodgers also had RBI singles.
Sydney Eck had another strong pitching performance, getting her second straight complete-game victory. She allowed five hits and a walk, while striking out six. One of the two runs she allowed was unearned.
Butler 13, Northeast Texas 1 (5 innings)
The most stunning loss of Butler's 54-4 season a year ago came at the hands of Northeast Texas. On Saturday, the Grizzlies earned a measure of revenge, pounding out a 13-1 win in run-rule fashion.
Sydney Eck led the offensive attack, scoring three times including a two-run home run in the first inning. Joselyn Dean, Monica Islava and Alyson Bressie also drove in two runs apiece.
Jayde Hansen earned her second win in as many days, throwing four innings and allowing just one run.
Butler 8, Kilgore 0 (5 innings)
Sydnee Eck threw four scoreless innings for her third win of the weekend, allowing just one hit while striking out four. Abbie Clanton threw one scoreless inning to finish the game.
Offensively, Kate James drove in a pair of runs while Eck drove in a run and scored twice.
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