DRAGONS EARN FIRST DH SWEEP OF BUTLER SINCE 2002

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College softball team rallied to win Game 1 and held on to win Game 2 over the Butler Grizzlies to do something the program hasn't done in 24 years.

Riley Dreher's walk-off single in the first game completed a comeback from three runs down after three innings in a 4-3 victory over the Grizzlies in the 2026 Jayhawk Conference opener for both teams on Thursday at Fun Valley. Then the Blue Dragons made a three-run first inning stand up in a 3-2 victory.

The Blue Dragons earned their first doubleheader sweep of the Grizzlies since 2002.

Hutchinson (13-5, 2-0 KJCCC) will play host to Seward County in a Jayhawk Conference doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Fun Valley

GAME 1 RECAP – Hutchinson 4, Butler 3
The Blue Dragons trailed Butler 3-0 after three innings after giving up single runs in each of those innings.

Hutchinson's comeback began in the fourth inning. Freshman Kaci Young hit a leadoff home run, then the Blue Dragons pulled within 3-2 on Gabby Stauffer's two-out RBI double.

The Blue Dragons tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth when pinch hitter Hadley Topping hit a solo home run to left field in the sixth inning.

The home runs hit by both Young and Topping were their first career homers.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, with one out Tailor Golly, Stauffer and Leyla O'Connor all singled to load the bases before Dreher hit a full-count pitch to left-center to score Golly with the game-winning run – Hutchinson's second walkoff against Butler in as many seasons at Fun Valley.

Young (2-0) entered the pitching circle and worked the final four innings to earn the victory. Young did not allow a hit or a run. She had two walks and three strikeouts. Young took over for Alyssa Rogers in the fourth inning. Young pitched the first three-plus innings with six hits and three runs allowed.

The Blue Dragons out-hit Butler 11-6.

Dreher, Stauffer and Golly had two hits each.

Dreher went 2 for 4 with two single and one RBI. Stauffer was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI double. Golly was 2 for 4 with two runs scored. She also threw out two Butler base stealers at second base in the top of the sixth inning.

GAME 2 RECAP – Hutchinson 3, Butler 2
The momentum from the Game 1 walk-off carried over into the first inning of the second game.

Kaibryn Kruger and Addi Lutz led off the inning with back-to-back walks. After Kruger stole her 14th base of the season, she scored on a Golly sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. Three batters later, Dreher laced a two-run single to left-center to score Lutz and Stauffer for a 3-0 lead after one inning.

Blue Dragon starting pitcher Haley Ediger (4-2) worked the first five-plus innings to earn the pitching victory. She allowed no runs and three hits with three strikeouts and five walks. Twice Ediger worked out of runners on second and third situations without allowing a run.

Jessica Schmidt entered the pitching circle in the sixth inning to earn her second save of the season and ninth career save. Schmidt gave up four hits and two runs with one strikeout.

Schmidt got out of a jam in the sixth with runners at second and third with one out. Schmidt got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, which ended on a line drive to center fielder Kruger.

After scoring two runs in the seventh, Butler had the tying run at second base with one out. Schmidt retired the final two batters to complete the sweep.

Hutchinson had just five hits in Game 2.

Dreher was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. Stauffer was 2 for 3 with a run scored. Golly had the only other Blue Dragon hit.