As the spring sports season begins to wind down, many teams are already beginning to prepare for their next season.

The football team had its annual blue and white scrimmage, the men’s soccer team had its spring exhibition matches, and five teams have announced additions to their rosters for next year.

Let’s take a look forward and see how some of Butler’s teams will be changing for the 2012-13 school year.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The men’s basketball team finished the 2011-12 season with a 22-15 record, averaging 40.8 percent shooting from the field and 28.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs were ranked eighth and 10th in the Horizon League in those categories, respectively.

The team has a chance to improve with the additions of senior guard and transfer Rotnei Clarke and incoming freshman guard Kellen Dunham.

In three seasons at Arkansas, Clarke averaged more than 15 points per game and shot nearly 44 percent from 3-point range.

Dunham averaged more than 29 points during his senior season at Pendleton Heights High School.

The Bulldogs will also be adding guard Devontae Morgan from Tampa, Fla., and guard Chris Harrison-Docks from Okemos, Mich.

Morgan led his high school team to a state championship last season, averaging more than 15 points and six rebounds per game.

Harrison-Docks averaged 21 points and five steals per game in his senior season.

The team will lose only two players—guard Ronald Nored and forward Garrett Butcher.

Butler will have to make up for the loss of Nored’s defensive prowess, as well as the experience and leadership provided by the pair.

Clarke and seniors Emerson Kampen, Chase Stigall and Andrew Smith will likely be asked to step up and fill those roles.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The women’s basketball team concluded its 2011-12 season with a 13-17 record and said goodbye to two senior guards—Devin Brierly and Kaley May.

Brierly was the only Bulldog to start in all 30 of the team’s games. She recorded more than 32 minutes of playing time per game, averaging 11 points per game.

Sophomore center Sarah Hamm is the only returning player to average more than 10 points per game last season.

Hamm will be joined by sophomore guard Jenna Cobb, freshman forward Hayley Howard and freshman guard Hannah Douglas, who all played key roles on the team last season.

Butler will also be adding four incoming freshman—forward Katie Brewer from Indianapolis, guard Blaire Langlois from Carmel, guard Lexus Murry from Indianapolis and forward-center Olivia Wrencher from West Chester, Ohio.

Brewer is a versatile player who has the ability to knock down three-pointers and battle down low.

Langlois has deep range on her jump shot but also has the ability to make plays with her passing.

Murry averaged more than 22 points per game during her senior season and can also be effective on the defensive end, where she averaged 3.5 steals per game.

Wrencher will bring size to the Bulldogs that will complement the play of Hamm and Howard under the basket.

SOFTBALL

The softball team will lose seven seniors at the conclusion of its current season, including four-year starting outfielder and third baseman Lauren McNulty, Butler’s home run record-holding first baseman Erin Falkenberry and catcher Mallory Winters.

Despite this, coach Scott Hall has five incoming players who could make an immediate impact on the program.

Alex Kotter, a shortstop from Vincennes Lincoln High School, had a .615 career batting average and was an Indiana first team All-State pick.

Chelsea Conover, an outfielder from Brownsburg, led her high school team in stolen bases, runs scored and on-base percentage for three years.

Audrey East is a utility player from New Palestine High School. East is one of the best power hitters in Indiana and boasted a .902 slugging percentage, eight home runs and 47 RBIs last season.

Taylor Lockwood, a pitcher from Southport High School, has good control and will be a solid addition to the pitching staff.

The same could be said for Kristin Gutierrez, a left-handed power pitcher from Highlands Ranch High School in Colorado.

Gutierrez, a 2011 Triple Crown All-American honoree, is a dual threat with her pitching and hitting. She led her conference with 127 strikeouts and recorded a .542 batting average.

The success of the pitching recruits could be key with the loss of senior pitcher Breanna Fisher and injuries to junior pitcher Jenny Esparza this season.

BASEBALL

The baseball team will add four players who could have an immediate impact next season.

Nick Bartolone is a left-handed outfielder from Harrison High School. Coach Steve Farley said he expects Bartolone to compete for position in the outfield next year.

Chris Marras, a catcher from Vernon Hills, Ill., will get the chance to work with two fifth-year senior catchers, Radley Haddad and Nick Hladek.

Nick Saldutti is a power-hitting first baseman from Westfield High School. He hit .477 with a .571 on-base percentage in his junior season.

Drew Small is a utility player from Zionsville. He was an All-State honorable mention.

His versatility and speed will help him compete for a spot in the outfield, especially with the loss of senior outfielder Mike Hoscheit.

The Bulldogs will also lose pitchers Dom Silvestri, Mike Hernandez, Brad Schnitzer, Brian Padove and Ryan Salvino, as well as senior infielder Griffin Richeson.

VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball team is returning eight players who played in at least 50 sets last year and lost only one senior in Maureen Bamiro.

Bamiro, a former middle blocker, finished with the second-best attack percentage in Butler history and sixth all-time in kills and kills per set.

Last season, she was voted All-Horizon League.

The Bulldogs will return sophomore middle blocker Maggie Harbison, who will likely be a key contributor after being voted All-Horizon League last season.

Butler will also add two transfer students.

Freshman Erica Stahl, a transfer from Cincinnati, will be an addition to the middle blocker position.

Stahl only has four sets of collegiate experience under her belt but was named among the top high school volleyball players by the Under Armour Watch list in 2010.

Sophomore Morgan Peterson, a setter from Middle Tennessee State, will have two years of eligibility with the Bulldogs.

She averaged 8.58 assists and 1.41 digs per set last season.

Photo by Rachel Anderson

Men’s basketball and football dominate the athletics scene not only at Butler but also at universities across the nation.

Because of this, spring sports often take a back seat to these fall and winter sports no matter how well teams might be doing, and attendance statistics reflect this.

Junior first baseman Pat Gelwicks, a member of the Butler baseball team, said he thinks revenue is a big factor in the turnouts for spring sporting events.

“Football and basketball are the sports that are the moneymakers for the athletic(s) department, and they have bigger facilities because of the number of people who go to their games,” Gelwicks said. “I also think that sports like basketball and football are more publicized, and that’s how it is in other places too.”

According to the NCAA, an average of 7,178 people attended each Butler men’s basketball game at Hinkle Fieldhouse during the 2010-2011 season, the most recent season with available statistics.

The Butler football team saw an average of 2,619 people walk through the gates of the Butler Bowl per game during its 2011 season.

Attendance figures for spring sports such as baseball, softball, golf, tennis and track and field are not available on the NCAA website.

Of Butler’s spring sports, only baseball and softball have attendance figures included in their box scores on www.butlersports.com.

The largest home crowd of the ongoing season for the baseball team was 277 for a doubleheader against Wright State on March 24.

In a game against Loyola of Chicago on March 31, the softball team drew a season-high 187 fans.

Senior first baseman Erin Falkenberry said she thinks softball does not get as much exposure as other sports and cited the location of the softball field as a reason why.

“I don’t think there’s that much publicity or promotion for softball games, so that could be why,” Falkenberry said. “I don’t think a lot of students know about us, and with our location so far away from campus, I don’t think, unless you’ve been out there, that you’d know there’s a softball field out there.”

Baseball junior infielder Bob Akin said the numerous games that baseball and softball teams play during their seasons could factor into why few people attend games.

Collegian file photo

“We play four or five games a week and play the same team for several games in a row,” Akin said. “With basketball, there’s one big rivalry game to go to, so I think that has something to do with it.”

Gelwicks also said the number of games that are played in a season, as well as Butler’s small enrollment, could have something to do with the lower attendance.

“The fact that we play so many games means there’s a bit of a spread-out crowd,” Gelwicks said. “Plus, Butler’s a smaller school. Most schools that get large crowds are bigger public schools.”

Unpredictable spring weather could also play a role in the low number of fans at sporting events, considering that the majority are contested outdoors.

“It’s usually colder during our season, and people don’t want to sit in the cold for three hours,” Gelwicks said.

While Falkenberry said having more fans at home games would be appreciated, the low attendance does not bother her.

“It doesn’t bother us,” Falkenberry said. “But we would love to get the support that other teams on campus get.”

The Butler softball team traveled to Morehead State yesterday and won one of two games.

The Bulldogs (14-23, 5-4) tallied double-digit runs for the first time this season in an 11-5 victory over the Eagles (11-23).

Photo by Rachel Anderson

Trailing 5-4 entering the seventh inning, Butler went on the offensive and scored seven runs against Morehead State’s bullpen.

In the first game between the teams, Eagles junior Katie Pfost pitched a complete game shutout, and Morehead State won 1-0.

Over the weekend, the Bulldogs took two out of three games from Illinois-Chicago in a Horizon League series.

The Flames (15-19, 3-3) captured an 8-4 victory in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday at BU Softball Field.

UIC tallied eight runs in the first four innings of the contest, and Butler was never able to recover despite rallying in the seventh inning.

With the win, the Flames avoided the sweep and ended Butler’s five-game winning streak.

The Bulldogs dominated the first game of the doubleheader, winning by a score of 9-0 in five innings.

Junior pitcher Jenny Esparza pitched a complete game, recording five strikeouts and allowing three hits.

On Friday, Butler won a 4-3 nail-biter in the first game of the series.

Freshman second baseman Kristen Boros, senior designated hitter Erin Falkenberry and senior catcher Mallory Winters all hit home runs for the Bulldogs.

Boros also was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Monday.

Butler will host Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis for a pair of games Thursday.

The Butler softball team continued to struggle, picking up only one win in a seven-game, six-day stretch.

Last night, the Bulldogs (6-20, 1-2) took Eastern Illinois into extra innings in the first game of a doubleheader.

Butler capitalized on an error by the Panthers (13-13) in the top of the ninth to grab a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the frame, the Bulldogs allowed a game-winning, two-run single and fell 2-1.

The result of the second game was not available at press time.

The Bulldogs started Horizon League play over the weekend, winning one of three games against Youngstown State.

Butler snapped its 12-game losing streak by rallying from a 4-2 deficit and recording a 5-4 win against the Penguins (16-6-1, 2-1-0).

A two-out, run-scoring single from senior catcher Mallory Winters in the seventh inning put the Bulldogs over the Penguins.

Senior pitcher Breanna Fisher picked up the win for Butler, allowing two hits and striking out five in three innings of work.

Butler dropped the next two games to the Penguins.

In the second game the Bulldogs started with a 5-1 lead but couldn’t hold off Youngstown State, eventually losing the game 6-5 through 10 innings.

The Bulldogs dropped a 4-1 decision in the final game of the three-game series.

Last week, the Bulldogs dropped two more games at home to Miami of Ohio.

The Redhawks (17-11) won the first game by a 5-1 score. They took a one-run lead in the fourth inning and added three more runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Senior first baseman Erin Falkenberry got her first home run of the season, accounting for the Bulldogs’ only run of the day.

In the second game, two Miami pitchers combined to toss a shutout. The Redhawks finished the game in five innings, winning 9-0.

Butler will take on Michigan State tomorrow before hosting a three-game series against Loyola of Chicago this weekend.

Photo by Reid Bruner

The Butler softball team dropped its first two contests of the 2012 season by one run apiece.

Led by junior pitcher Jenny Esparza, the Bulldogs (0-2) faced off against Lipscomb in the first game of the Lady Bison Round Robin on Saturday.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning when Esparza gave up a two-out, walk-off home run, allowing the Bison (3-3) to grab a 1-0 victory.

Lipscomb sophomore designated hitter Haley Elliott deposited a home run in left-center field to send the Bison home happy.

Esparza did not allow a hit until the sixth inning, recording five strikeouts and walking three batters.

Photo by Rachel Anderson

Lipscomb senior pitcher Whitney Kiihnl fired a no-hitter against Butler, striking out 11 and recording her second shutout of the season.

The Bulldogs’ offense picked up in its second game of the tournament against Samford (3-4), but it was not enough as the other Bulldogs won 4-3.

Butler had three doubles in the first inning, courtesy of junior second baseman Meaghan Sullivan, senior outfielder Lauren McNulty and senior first baseman Erin Falkenberry.

McNulty then gave Butler a 2-1 lead with a home run to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Sophomore pitcher Leah Bry had held Samford to one hit until giving up four in the top of the seventh inning, leading two three runs. This gave Samford a 4-3 lead that Butler could not overcome.

Butler finished the game with 10 hits, with Huey, McNulty, Falkenberry and sophomore third baseman Callie Dennison each recording two.

Bry had six strikeouts and three walks in the loss.

The team was scheduled to play both Samford and Lipscomb again on Sunday, but the games were cancelled due to inclement weather.

The Bulldogs will be back in action this weekend with a doubleheader against Detroit and Missouri, which will be held at Evansville.

After coming close to making history last season, the Butler softball team is looking to bounce back and make its first appearance in the NCAA tournament this season.

The team lost only three players to graduation last season and returns an impressive lineup that includes junior Jenny Esparza, the defending Horizon League Pitcher of the Year.

The Bulldogs will also have 2011 All-Horizon League First Team first baseman Erin Falkenberry and outfielder Lauren McNulty back for their senior seasons.

Butler was ranked second behind favorite Illinois-Chicago in the pre-season Horizon League poll.

Falkenberry set the Butler single-season home run record last year with 13 while leading the team with 43 runs batted in. She said the Flames are worthy of being pre-season favorites.

“They won conference last year, and they didn’t lose that many players,” Falkenberry said. “We’re trying to redeem ourselves from last year.”

Photo by Rachel Anderson

Esparza said Horizon League opposition will be difficult this year after Butler finished as runner-up to the Flames in last season’s Horizon League tournament.

“I think it’ll be tough,” Esparza said. “There are a lot of returning players from the previous year.

“It’s always hard competition, especially since we did well last year, so we’ve got a big target on our backs.”

The Bulldogs begin the season by playing four games over two days at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 18 and 19.

In those contests, they will face the host Bison and the Samford Bulldogs in two games apiece.

Butler will face its toughest non-conference challenge when it heads to California on March 9 to participate in the 2012 Bayer CropScience Classic at Fresno State.

Among the nationally-ranked teams Butler will face are California currently No. 3 in the ESPN.com USA Softball poll and No. 11 Oregon.

McNulty, who batted .286 and was second on the team with 29 runs batted in last season, said that the two Pac-12 schools will be the Bulldogs’ toughest competition this season.

“Both teams have just had great softball programs in the past, and I know they made it to the regionals last year, so they’re very good softball schools and well respected in the softball culture,” McNulty said. “I think they’ll be our toughest opponents when we’re on the road.”

Coach Scott Hall said the high-caliber competition will give Butler the opportunity to get ready for the Horizon League portion of its schedule later in the season.

“[The non-conference schedule] prepares us and keeps us consistently finding out what we need to improve on,” Hall said. “It gives us an idea of where we’re at right now and what we need to work on.”

The team’s first home game is during a March 19 doubleheader against Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne.

Hall said he hopes the team’s offseason workouts can help the Bulldogs stay focused and keep them from injuries over the course of the season.

“We’ve been doing a lot of conditioning and weight training,” Hall said. “[We are] trying to get our bodies and minds right for the long grind of the season.”

Before stepping into the batter’s box, Erin Falkenberry draws an “E” in the dirt while standing in the on-deck circle.

The junior first baseman doesn’t classify herself as superstitious, but the ritual has paid big dividends for her.

Falkenberry recently set Butler’s career RBI record (109) and currently holds records for career slugging percentage (.556) and career home runs (30). The slugger is also tied for most home runs in a single season (11).

“[Falkenberry] doesn’t look like she would be a big power hitter,” sophomore pitcher Jenny Esparza said. “So it’s almost surprising how she hits with so much power. Her swing is so smooth and effortless.”

Falkenberry’s teammates and coach typically uses the word “power” to describe her game.

Earlier this season in a game at Detroit, Falkenberry blasted two home runs in her first two at bats. Her teammates were stunned when Detroit pitched to her during her third time up.

Not surprisingly, Falkenberry smashed another homer, putting the finishing touches on an 11-1 win.

“As she was rounding third base, she was covering her mouth trying not to laugh,” Butler left fielder Lauren McNulty said. “I think she felt bad that we were beating them so badly and didn’t want to rub it in by celebrating.”

Falkenberry has had her fair share of home runs and big hits, but goes about her business in a humble manner.

“I feel like I can’t smile because I don’t’ want to come off as cocky or confident,” Falkenberry said.

McNulty recognizes Falkenberry’s sportsmanship and humilty.

“She doesn’t showboat, even though she has so much talent,” McNulty said. “She’s coachable and easy to get along with—a coach’s dream.”

McNulty is more than just a teammate to Falkenberry—she is also her roommate. The two have lived with or near one another since they were freshmen.

“It’s nice when we have 6:30 a.m. practices or 6 a.m. weights,” McNulty said as she laughed. “After a long night of studying, it helps to have someone else there to make sure you’re awake.”

The two roommates have helped lead the Bulldogs to a 26-18 record and first place in the Horizon League.

Entering his first season at Butler and his first as a college coach, Hall was unfamiliar with the Butler squad he had inherited—unfamiliar with nearly everyone but Falkenberry, who had played for Hall for four seasons at Pendleton (Ind.) Heights High School.

“I had always looked up to him in elementary and middle school and knew that I wanted to play for him,” Falkenberry said.

Upon Jeanne Rayman’s resignation as Butler head coach last season, Falkenberry immediately made a phone call to Hall, urging him to apply for the job.

Hall took her advice and in July 2010, he was hired as Butler head softball coach.

“When I got word, I ran around the house screaming,” Falkenberry said. “He is by far the best coach I’ve ever played for.”

Falkenberry calls him one of the most important male figures in her life.

“I respect him as a coach first, but he’s gotten to be like a father figure as well,” she said.

At the conclusion of her softball career at Pendleton Heights, Hall presented Falkenberry with a special gift—the bat she used throughout high school, or at least what was left of it.

“She got a hit during one game and the bat snapped in half,” Hall said. “It was just a testament to how hard she hits the ball.”

Next season will be Falkenberry’s last as a Bulldog, and she already realizes how much she will miss it.

“These have been the three best years of my life,” Falkenberry said. “I can’t imagine not playing with these girls anymore. They’re like my sisters, and I love them.”

The Butler softball team picked up its fifth win in two days by defeating Bucknell and Hartford yesterday at the Rebel Games in Orlando, Fla.

After starting the season 1-5, the Bulldogs (7-4) have won six of their last eight games.

Sophomore pitcher Jenny Esparza picked up the win for the Bulldogs against Bucknell (3-13), striking out 13 in five innings of work.

Her teammates gave her some early run support, scoring four runs in the first two innings.

In the first inning, Butler sophomore second baseman Meaghan Sullivan stole home to give the Bulldogs an early advantage. A few moments later, junior rightfielder Jessica Huey connected had a double to bring in junior first baseman Erin Falkenberry.

The Bulldogs offensive production continued the next inning and Butler led, 4-0, heading into the third.

Bucknell, the defending Patriot League champions, scored in the third inning to cut the deficit to three runs, but it would be the only run

Esparza would allow. Senior Jennifer Chasteen, who pitched a complete game Sunday in a win

against Colgate, closed out the game for the Bulldogs, sealing a 5-1 victory.

Esparza struck out 12 batters in Butler’s other Sunday victory, a 3-2 win against Manhattan. Her season record is currently 2-3.

Later Tuesday, the Bulldogs beat Hartford, 5-4, in eight innings.

Butler built a lead off a Falkenberry two-run shot in the third inning, but the Hawks tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. But in the top of the eighth, redshirt sophomore Kayla Gray drove in what would eventually be the game-winning run.

With senior outfielder Erin Jackson on second, senior third baseman Lauren Ott sacrifice bunted the runner to third. Gray then singled to left field, yielding the final 5-4 score.

Sullivan extended her strong Spring Break showing with three hits against the Hawks.

The Bulldogs have no games today but will play a pair on both Thursday (Akron; St. Peter’s) and Friday (Siena; Rider).

Following the conclusion of the Rebel Games, Butler will travel to Bloomington, Ind., Tuesday for a double-header with the Indiana Hoosiers (12-12).