(Editor’s note: Results from Friday’s rubber match in Allen Community College’s Region VI playoff series against Butler were unavailable by press time.)
EL DORADO — Butler Community College forced a decisive game 3, preventing Allen Community College from advancing to the next round in the Region VI baseball playoffs with a 4-2 victory Thursday.
Butler took control by scoring four times in the fourth and fifth innings.
Brandon Harper put Allen ahead in the top of the second inning with an RBI grounder to score Colton Ayres.
Butler responded in the bottom of the fourth when Brock Lummus lifted a two-run home run to center. Brock Kuehler then stole third base and scored on a throwing error by Allen’s catcher for the third tally of the inning.
Alan Bernhardt added one more run to Butler’s offensive cause in the bottom of the fifth. His sac fly pushed the Grizzlies ahead 4-1.
Allen didn’t go down without a fight.
The Red Devils, who pulled out a 7-6 win in Wednesday’s playoff opener, loaded the bases before Garrett Rusch was hit by a pitch to pare the deficit to 4-2.
But the Grizzlies slammed the door from there to seal the win.
Brett Buchanan (0-3) started on the mound for Allen and threw 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on two hits while striking out four and walking four. Noe Stroer tossed 3.1 innings of relief and allowed one run on five hits with one strikeout.
Ethan Nissen closed the eighth inning for the Red Devils and didn’t allow a hit in one inning.
Butler’s Caden Kickhaefer (10-1) earned the victory on the mound and worked 6.1 innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out six. Austin Bagnall earned the save by tossing the final 2.2 innings and only allowing one run on two hits while striking out four.
Blake Venneman led Allen at the plate with three hits and Patrick Mulligan had another two hits. Allen totaled eight hits and five walks.
