Softball drops four games at Nashville tournament

GRANT ANSCHUETZ | STAFF REPORTER | ganschue@butler.edu

The Butler University softball team, 3-6 on the season, came out of the Tiger Classic, a tournament hosted by Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee, with a 1-4 record.

The Bulldogs lost both games on Feb. 19, lost a Feb. 20 night game and split a pair of games on Feb. 21.

On Feb. 20, Butler led the University of Evansville Purple Aces 2-1 entering the last inning. Evansville was able to score two runs in the top half of the inning and shut down Butler in the bottom half to come away with a 3-2 victory.

Sophomore third baseman Alyssa Lach had the team’s only RBI. It came in the bottom of the third inning when she singled to center field.

Senior Kristin Gutierrez, sophomore Mikeila Boroff and junior Kacey Starwalt split up the pitching assignment for the Bulldogs. Boroff took the pitching loss while Gutierrez led the group with three strikeouts.

In their first game on Feb. 21, the Bulldogs attempted a last inning comeback of their own, but they fell to the Northern Kentucky Norse 7-5.

Butler found themselves with a 2-0 lead after the first two innings, but the Norse blew the game wide open by scoring six runs in the bottom of the third.  Both teams scored a run in the fifth inning, making it 7-3.  Freshman pitcher Kaitlin Doud sparked a rally in the seventh inning by leading things off with a double to left field, but Butler only managed to push across two runs in the last frame.

Sophomore second baseman Maggie MacBeth and junior first baseman Audrey Hiner each had two RBIs for the Bulldogs.

Doud gave up four earned runs and took the loss on the mound for Butler.

The Bulldogs saved their best hitting performance of the tournament for last. They slugged their way to an 11-1 victory against the Tennessee State Tigers.

Leading the offensive charge was a three RBI game from Doud. Junior center fielder Brandyce Sallee drove in two runs as well. MacBeth and sophomore right fielder Sarah Dixon each had one RBI. MacBeth led the team with three hits, including one triple.

Boroff went the distance on the mound for Butler. She gave up one earned run and struck out four batters.

The Bulldogs’ next set of games will start on Feb. 26 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina at the University of North Carolina.

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