Embracing The Rain
Butler played a weather-shortened Prospect League baseball game Wednesday night, but there was no abbreviating the victory against East Division-leading West Virginia.
The Sox scored once in the first inning and again in the fifth before lightning and rain stopped play, giving the Sox a 2-0 victory on Butler Eagle Night at Kelly Automotive Park.
“We came out tonight and played really well on defense right from the start and had some big hits,” said Butler manager Cody Herald.
The win completes a two-game sweep of the Miners. The Sox won Tuesday night, 2-1.
Butler (8-17) scored the only run it would need in the bottom of the first frame. With one out, Kellen Sarver and Jeff Wehler had consecutive singles. Sarver moved to third on Kristian Webb's fielder's choice.
A wild pitch from Miners' starting pitcher Jacob Rucker allowed Sarver to score.
Evan Webb and Nick Spiliotis drilled back-to-back doubles in the fifth for a second run. Moments after Nick Mancuso grounded out for the first out of the inning, the game was stopped because of lightning. Rain soon followed and after a 40-minute delay, the game was ruled officially over.
Aside from scoring the early run, Sarver, Butler's catcher, helped to cut the fuse on two scoring chances for West Virginia. He threw out Maddux Houghton and Frankie Jezioro in the first and fifth, respectively, when both attempted to steal second base.
“He did a good job of eliminating baserunners tonight,” Herald said of Sarver. “We looked great on defense tonight, whether it was making plays in the field and throwing out guys to steal.
“Jake (Stout, Butler's starting pitcher) has a quick motion to the plate and that's very important. Most baserunners steal on the pitcher, not the catcher.”
Stout earned the win after allowing five hits in five innings.
“Jake was really good to the plate and was hitting his spots,” Sarver said. “At that point, it's just up to me to put the ball on the bag. I've thrown out 12 guys trying to steal this season.”
Sarver is coming off a redshirt year at the University of Illinois.
“I probably got in seven innings of action last fall, but didn't play at all in the spring,” he said. “My goals this summer are to develop as a catcher and get as many at-bats as possible. I'm seeing the ball really well right now and driving it to the opposite field.”
West Virginia (17-7) was denied another run in the top of the fourth when Mancuso fielded a ground ball from his position at second base and threw home to nab Fernando Ortiz.
The Sox handed Rucker his first loss of the season. He struck out three and allowed five hits to Butler and is now 3-1 with a 3.17 ERA this season.
The BlueSox begin a two-game road series at Chillicothe Thursday.
West Virginia 000 00x xxx — 0 5 0
Butler 100 01x xxx — 2 5 0
W: Jake Stout 5 IP (1K, 1BB). L: Jacob Rucker 4.1 IP (3K, 0BB).
West Virginia (17-7): Fernando Ortiz 2-1B, Maddux Houghton 2B
Butler (8-17): Kellen Sarver 1B R, Kristian Webb 2B, Evan Webb 2B R, Nick Spiliotis 2B RBI
Thursday: Butler at Chillicothe
