The Wichita State men’s baseball team played an intra-squad game on Sunday under the direction of head coach Todd Butler.

Butler said the game was the sixth intra-squad practice the team has had this year.

The matchups give players a chance to play in a game-like environment while practicing their skills.

“Right now we’re just doing fundamental baseball like coach Stephenson did, and improving every day and have fun doing it,” Butler said.

Butler became head coach after the departure of Gene Stephenson in May.

Butler said that Wichita is the biggest city he’s been in but he has adjusted well.

“It’s a bigger population, there are more players around us, it seems like the recruiting has been good,” he said.

Butler said that he’s been excited to watch the team play in the games, but more importantly they enjoy it as well.

Infielder Erik Harbutz said that intra-squad games are good to play because they put players in live scenarios.

“It’s just like a game,” Harbutz said. “You’re facing guys that are playing at the D1 level, and seeing pitchers throw. They’re getting work, hitters are getting work, and the defense is getting work.”

As a senior member of the team, Harbutz hopes that he can bring his experiences to the younger players.

Butler said the team will go back to the weight room training after Oct. 23, and work on that until Thanksgiving.

“Everyone is looking forward to the spring and we’ve got a lot of work to do until then,” Butler said.

So far he likes what he has seen out of the team.

“They’ve done a very good job,” Butler said. “It’s an experienced team, it’s an older team, and they’ve been through it and they’ve been well schooled in the past.”