Senior Butler softball player Devin Dearing waited at the plate during the eighth inning of Sunday’s second game of a doubleheader against Fordham.

“Hit Me Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears rang through the stadium speakers as pinch runner Devin Brierly jogged to second base.

On the first pitch of the at-bat, Dearing hit a double to drive in Brierly for the walk-off win.

Dearing is just one of many Butler players who uses their walk-up song to gain extra confidence.

“It helps in not realizing the pressure of the situation,” Dearing said.

Many players have different takes on the idea of walk-up songs. Dearing said her song reflects her relaxed personality, which helps her get in the zone at the plate.

Walk-up songs are also used to get hitters excited for their at-bat, said senior first baseman Jimmy Risi.

“You have to find a song that pumps you up but also keeps you relaxed and not too amped up,” Risi said.

Risi uses the song “Pretty Handsome Awkward” by The Used to get him ready. Risi said his is one of the more serious songs of all the players.

“Mine is a little more serious and gets me pumped,” Risi said. “But there are some guys who have some goofy songs.”

Junior Marcos Calderon uses the hip-hop song “Goodies” by female artist Ciara.

“Walk-up songs match your personality, and I’m not the most serious guy,” Calderon said.

“It’s important to play relaxed and have a good time when you’re playing. You have to be serious, but you have to enjoy it.”

Calderon, the leadoff hitter, said “Goodies” helps the team relax at the beginning of the game because it brings them back to their middle school days when the song first came out.

“It brings you back to when baseball was easy, school was easy and everything was easy, and it just kind of brings a smile to your face,” Calderon said.

Freshman softball player Riley Carter uses a hip-hop remix of “O Canada.”

Carter, from Uxbridge, Ontario, said a friend from home told her to use something that says “Canada” in it, and she remembered how they used to listen to the song when they were younger.

“When I hear it I get kind of pumped,” Carter said. “It reminds me of home, and I feel good.”

Senior Jenny Esparza organized the girls’ walk-up songs and said she had her teammates pick songs that help them get ready at the plate.

“It can either be what the words mean that actually pump them up or just the beat,” Esparza said.

Senior baseball catcher Radley Haddad said walk-up songs can be approached in two different ways. Some players like to have fun and put on a song that gets the crowd going, like Calderon, Haddad said.

“Marcos is just trying to get in a relaxed mood,” Haddad said. “Last year he used a Gloria Estefan song.”

Haddad said his approach is to be a little more serious and focus in with a song that gets him pumped up. He uses the song “Breaking a Sweat” by Skrillex, a mash-up of an old Doors song.

“I heard it at a Reds game last summer, and I liked it and thought it could be a song for me,” Haddad said. “Players are always thinking about what their next walk-up will be.”

Haddad said no matter what approach hitters take, walk-up songs are a fun aspect of the game.

The Butler softball team lost 11-2 at Ball State (24-11) yesterday.

Junior infielder Krista Hakola went 2-for-2 at the plate and drove in a run for the Bulldogs.

Butler split a two-game series against Atlantic 10 foe George Washington last weekend.

In the first game, the two teams were deadlocked until the seventh inning when senior Devin Brierly came in to pinch run for a walked batter. She was eventually able to score on a sacrifice fly by junior Callie Dennison.

Senior Jenny Esparza and freshman Kristin Gutierrez combined to pitch a no-hitter for the 1-0 win.

The Colonials (12-17) won the second game 4-1.

The team has a non-conference double-header against Morehead State today at 3 p.m.

Two swings helped the Butler softball team sweep St. Bonaventure last weekend to start its conference season.

Butler (10-12, 2-0) trailed in the first game before coming back to defeat the Bonnies 2-1 on senior first baseman Devin Dearing’s first home run of the season.

Senior pitcher Jenny Esparza got the win on the mound, allowing three hits and zero walks.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Butler fell behind again early before sophomore infielder Kristen Boros hit a grand slam to give the Bulldogs the lead and eventual 6-3 win.

It was Butler’s eighth win in its last nine games.

Today’s game against Eastern Illinois was canceled. The Bulldogs will be back in action at Dayton tomorrow at 3 p.m.

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.

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 was one inning away from sweeping its three-game homestand against Loyola of Chicago last weekend.

Photo by Rachel Anderson

The Bulldogs (9-21, 3-3) were unable to accomplish the feat, though, and finished the weekend with two victories.

In the first game against the Ramblers (10-14, 3-3), junior pitcher Jenny Esparza made her first start at home and led Butler to a 2-0 win.

Esparza, who was later named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week, fired a three-hit shutout, finishing with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Butler recorded only four hits in the contest, but they proved to be enough. Junior first baseman Meaghan Sullivan had two hits, and RBI were recorded by senior centerfielder Lauren McNulty and shortstop Kayla Gray.

In the second game of the series, Loyola staged a fifth-inning comeback to defeat Butler 5-4.

McNulty hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 advantage.

Butler increased its lead in the bottom of the third inning with a run-scoring double by Sullivan, who later scored on a sacrifice bunt by McNulty.

Errors cost the Bulldogs though.

Two defensive miscues in the top of the fifth inning led to a two-out grand slam by Loyola sophomore first baseman Lauren Zaworski.

Butler sophomore pitcher Leah Bry took the loss for the Bulldogs despite not allowing an earned run in five innings of work.

In the rubber game of the series, Butler defeated Loyola 4-0.

The Bulldogs took advantage of a fielding error and two walks to get on the board in the bottom of the first inning.

They extended their lead with an RBI double by Gray in the bottom of the fourth inning and a two-run double by senior right fielder Jessica Huey in the fifth inning.

Esparza started the game for Butler and recorded another victory. She finished with five strikeouts and allowed two hits in four innings of work.

Senior pitcher Breanna Fisher came on in relief of Esparza and scored a save.

The conference games against Loyola followed an 8-1 victory over Michigan State last Thursday.

Esparza pitched four innings and earned what would be the first of three consecutive victories.

Butler is taking on Indiana State in a doubleheader today and will host Illinois-Chicago for three games this weekend.

The Butler softball team grabbed two wins in a four-game series against three teams in Evansville last weekend.

The Bulldogs (2-4) took control early in their final game of the weekend, defeating host Evansville 3-2.

Butler tallied two runs in the first inning and added another in the third inning to capture the victory.

Junior pitcher Jenny Esparza recorded 12 strikeouts and senior third baseman Lauren McNulty and senior catcher Mallory Winters each had two hits in the game.

On Sunday Butler played its second game against Missouri-Kansas City but lost 1-0 in eight innings.

Senior pitchers Leah Bry and Breanna Fisher combined to hold the Kangaroos (6-4) to four hits on the day, but UMKC scored the only run of the game after a throwing error by the Bulldogs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

In the first game between the teams, two Kangaroo pitchers combined to hold the Bulldogs scoreless on five hits in a 2-0 win for UMKC.

Esparza took the tough-luck loss for Butler, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out nine.

The Bulldogs started the weekend strong with a decisive 8-0 win over Detroit.

Bry recorded a one-hit shutout and was supported by 10 hits.

The Bulldogs will travel to Arkansas to play in the Woo Pig Classic this weekend.

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.”

The Bulldogs outlasted Cleveland State in 16 innings Sunday to win the longest game in Butler softball history. Click the tabs for coverage.

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Video by Elyssa Garfinkle

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