Butler softball goes 2-3 in Nashville weekend event

Gabbi Schnaiter winds up for a pitch. Schnaiter and the Bulldogs went 2-3 in Nashville. Collegian file photo. 

CHRIS BROWN | STAFF REPORTER | cbbrown@butler.edu

The Butler University softball team fell to 4-10 on the season with a 2-3 showing at a five-game weekend event hosted by Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., from March 2-4.

Butler defeated Belmont University 3-0 on the first day of the event. Freshman pitcher Alyssa Graves struck out 12 batters in a complete game shutout, scattering seven hits and walking two in the outing.

Butler scored two runs in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by freshman shortstop Maddie Moore and a sacrifice fly by infielder/pitcher Kaitlin Doud. Junior catcher Cheyenne Thompson walked with the bases load in the seventh inning to force in a run and account for the rest of Butler’s scoring.

The Bulldogs split a pair of games on the second day of competition, falling to the University of Northern Iowa 4-3 before rebounding with a 7-3 win over North Carolina A&T State University.

In the first game of the day, a three-run double from Northern Iowa opened up in the scoring in the top of the first inning. The two teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Butler got on the scoreboard with an RBI single from junior outfielder Jenna Foreman.

Northern Iowa responded with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Butler came just short of a comeback in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs on a triple by Doud and single by sophomore infielder Christina Candotti before the Panthers were able to escape the inning and secure the victory.

Sophomore pitcher Gabbi Schnaiter got the start for the Bulldogs, allowing four earned runs over 5 ⅓ innings.

Against North Carolina A&T, Butler scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and held the lead for the rest of the game. Candotti and junior catcher Sammy Andersen each had two-run singles in the contest. Doud, senior infielder Alyssa Lach, and freshman infielder Claire Gilliland all picked up an RBI, while Foreman tallied three stolen bases.

On the mound, Doud allowed two earned runs over the first 4 ⅓ innings before giving way to senior Ambry Turpen, who held the Aggies scoreless over the final 2 ⅔ frames.

On the final day of the event, the Bulldogs lost to Northern Iowa 3-2 in extra innings before falling to Belmont 7-0.

Butler struck first against Northern Iowa on an RBI single by Lach in the third inning, and the game remained 1-0 until the Panthers scored a run in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game to extra innings.

Doud singled in a run in the ninth inning, but a Butler error led to a Northern Iowa run in the bottom of the frame. A walk with the bases loaded in the tenth inning forced in a run and gave Northern Iowa the victory.

Graves pitched the entire game for Butler, surrendering three runs (one earned) over 9 ⅓ innings while striking out seven and walking four.

In the last game of the weekend, Belmont scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and four in the fifth to take a commanding lead which they never relinquished. Butler had just five hits in the game and was unable to push a run across home plate.

Schnaiter gave up four earned runs over 4 ⅓ innings before Turpen took over, allowing one earned run in the final 1 ⅔ frames. Foreman had two hits and stole her ninth base of the season.

The Bulldogs return to action next weekend with four games in Memphis, Tennessee, from March 9-11.

Follow Chris on Twitter: @cbrownsports

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