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 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).