A member of Butler’s softball team waits to step into the batter’s box. The Bulldogs return to action with a three-game weekend series at St. John’s University on May 5-6. Jimmy Lafakis/Collegian file photo.
CHRIS BROWN | STAFF REPORTER | cbbrown@butler.edu
The Butler University softball team was swept by DePaul University in a three-game weekend series from April 28-29. The Bulldogs fell to 7-8 in Big East play and 20-25 on the season with the losses.
In the first game of the weekend, Butler got on the boards first with a two-run second inning. Sophomore infielder Madi Christiansen drove in a run with a double and sophomore outfielder Alyssa Garcia drew a bases-loaded walk to score another run.
DePaul responded with two runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-2 lead which held for the rest of the game.
Junior Kaitlin Doud made the start for the Bulldogs, surrendering five earned runs over five innings while allowing eight hits. Sophomore Gabbi Schnaiter pitched one scoreless inning in relief.
In the second game of the day, it was the Blue Demons who jumped out to an early lead. DePaul scored a single run in the first inning and three runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead into the sixth frame.
Butler scored one run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by senior outfielder Sarah Dixon and another run on a groundout by senior infielder Alyssa Lach in the seventh, but the Bulldogs were unable to complete the come-from-behind effort, falling 4-2.
Freshman Alyssa Graves pitched the first 3.1 innings for Butler, surrendering four earned runs on four hits, four walks, and three strikeouts. Schnaiter came on in relief to throw a scoreless final 2.2 frames.
In the final game of the weekend, the two teams swapped runs in the first inning. A wild pitch scored Dixon in the top of the inning, while a sacrifice fly from DePaul tied the game up in the bottom of the frame.
The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead on a solo home run by freshman infielder Claire Gilliland in the second inning, but the Blue Demons responded with an eight-run third inning. Butler chipped into DePaul’s sizeable lead with a solo run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Doud, but the Bulldogs fell 9-3 in the contest.
Three Butler pitchers threw two innings in the game. Graves gave up five earned runs, Doud gave up three, and Schnaiter held DePaul scoreless over the final two innings.
The Bulldogs will return to action with a three-game weekend series at St. John’s University from May 5-6.
Follow Chris on Twitter: @cbrownsports
