Butte College Takes Series Over Skyline College, 2–1

Oroville, Calif. — The Butte College Roadrunners continued their strong start to the 2026 season, taking two of three games from Skyline College at home to improve to 5–1 overall and 3–1 at home.

Game 1: Butte 9, Skyline 3

(Jan. 29 – Butte Game #4)

 Butte used timely hitting and strong pitching to hand Skyline its first loss of the season.

After a scoreless first inning, the Roadrunners broke through in the second. With two outs, Jack Howsley walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. AJ Perrin followed with a walk before Brady Alves cleared the bases with a two-run double to give Butte an early lead.

Butte added to the advantage in the third inning when Tyler Porter delivered a ground ball that brought home two more runs. In the fifth, Cole Davis drove in Ryan Pimentel with a sacrifice fly.

The Roadrunners kept the pressure on in the sixth when Kolbey Stolpe was hit by a pitch and Jacob Klapper followed by launching a two-run home run over the fence. In the seventh, Collin Severson walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a bunt attempt before scoring on a wild pitch. Klapper added his fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring.

On the mound, Aden McNabb went 3⅓ innings before turning it over to Carson Thompson, who was dominant in relief. Thompson threw 4⅔ innings of one-run baseball while striking out three. Colton Parenti closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning to secure the win.

Game 2: Skyline 7, Butte 5

(Jan. 30 - Butte Game #5)

Butte jumped out early but couldn't hold off a late Skyline rally.

Stolpe singled to open the first inning and came around to score on an RBI by Klapper to give Butte a 1–0 lead. In the second inning, Alves extended the lead with a solo home run.

Butte added another run in the fifth when Porter's ground ball brought home Stolpe. In the seventh, Stolpe doubled, was driven in by Klapper, and later scored when Jack Selfridge knocked in Klapper to make it a 5–3 game.

Despite the offensive effort, Skyline rallied late. Brent Gallegos gave the Roadrunners a strong start, throwing seven innings and allowing three runs, only one earned, but Skyline's late offense proved to be the difference as Butte dropped its first game of the season.

Game 3: Butte 8, Skyline 4

(Jan. 31 - Butte Game #6)

After a quiet start offensively, Butte exploded late to secure the series victory.

Trailing early, the Roadrunners tied the game in the sixth inning. Stolpe was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, and with two outs and Butte down two runs, Ryan Pearson crushed a two-run home run to even the score.

The game remained tied heading into the eighth, where Butte broke it open with a six-run inning. With two outs, Ryan Pimentel launched a go-ahead home run. Pearson followed with a double, and pinch hitter Selfridge delivered an RBI single. Ben Barley entered as a pinch runner and scored on a Perrin base hit. Alves doubled to drive in Perrin, Porter doubled home Alves, and Daevion Lindsey capped the rally with an RBI single.

On the mound, Brayden Bruno started and went 4⅔ innings, allowing two runs. Garret Francis tossed two shutout innings to keep Butte within striking distance before Nathan Brown closed out the final two innings to earn the win.

Series Notes

Butte's offense was led by Brady Alves, who went 4-for-9 with a home run and four RBIs over the three games. Kolbey Stolpe, Riley Pimentel, AJ Perrin, and Jacob Klapper each collected four hits during the series.

The Roadrunners will look to carry the momentum forward as they continue non-conference play with a trip to Napa and a series against West Valley who has reached the last two 3C2A State Baseball Championships.