DYNAMIC DEBUT FOR BUTLER

Golden Tornado baseball team runs away from Knoch, 13-3

March 26, 2024 Last Updated: March 26, 2024 09:23 AM Sports

Knoch set itself up on the first pitch of the game.

Butler's Noah Kollinger slides safely into third base during the Golden Tornado’s base ball season-opening 13-3 win over Knoch at Pullman Park on Monday. Kollinger had four hits in the game. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/25/2024)

Logan Cypher drilled a triple into the left-center field gap, eventually scoring on a Brady Wozniak groundout, and the Knights had a quick 1-0 lead on Monday afternoon at Pullman Park.

But Butler responded. Often.

The Golden Tornado struck for four runs in the bottom of the inning, collected 10 hits on the day and cruised to a 13-3, six-inning victory over Knoch in a mutual baseball season opener.

Liam McElroy’s two-run single to right was the big hit in Butler’s four-run first.

“It was important for us to answer that one run quickly,” Butler second baseman and leadoff batter Boden Lenyk said. “Scoring four runs in the first inning was huge for us.

“I think that’s going to be a strength for us. We have a good hitting team this year. I’ll do anything I can to get on base and start an inning. I’ll take (a [pitch) in the back if I have to.”

Lenyk collected three singles, three runs scored and a pair of RBI for the Tornado. No. 8 hitter Noah Kollinger had four singles, three runs scored and an RBI out of the No. 8 spot in the lineup.

“We did hit the ball well today, but we have a lot of things we need to clean up,” Butler coach Josh Forbes said. “We had a lot of stuff handed to us today, but we did take advantage of those things.

“If somebody’s gonna give you something, you have to be able to use it and we did that today.”

Knoch committed six errors in the contest, including dropping a pair of high infield fly balls while battling a high sky.

Carson Bish was the starting and winning pitcher for the Tornado, tossing 4.2 innings and striking out seven. He did not allow a run after that first-inning Knight tally.

Bish threw 80 pitches, 48 for strikes.

“He was attacking the zone, for the most part,” Forbes said. “That triple on the first pitch didn’t seem to faze Carson at all. He got a little wild late in the game, lost his curve ball … That’s when we had to make a change.”

Tanner Pry tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless ball, striking out a pair to wrap up the win for Butler.

Cypher had a triple, single and RBI for Knoch. Aidan Jones doubled to right with one out in the Knights’ fourth inning, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.

Knoch began the second inning with consecutive hit batsmen, but Bish allowed no runs there.

“They (Knights) had some scoring opportunities that our pitching and defense got us out of,” Forbes said. “That was encouraging.”

Knoch coach Bill Stoops was unavailable for comment after the game.

Knoch 100 020 — 3 4 6

Butler 420 421 — 13 10 1

WP: Carson Bish 4.2IP (7k, 1bb). LP: Jacob Stallsmith 2IP (3k, 3bb).

Knoch (0-1): Logan Cypher 3B 1B RBI, Brady Wozniak RBI, Aidan Jones 2B, Kyle Morgan 1B.

Butler (1-0): Boden Lenyk 3-1B 2-RBI 3-R, Mavrik Clement 2-R, Liam McElroy 1B 2-RBI, Noah Collins 2-RBI, Andrew Lucas RBI, Carson Bish RBI, Noah Kollinger 4-1B 3-R RBI, Nolan Stefaniak 2-1B.