Bulldogs Edge Xavier, 4-3, In Home Opener

March 9, 2005

Box Score

Senior Dale Mueller ripped a one-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead Butler to a 4-3 victory over Xavier in a non-league game at Bulldog Park on Wednesday, March 9. The win in Butler's home-opener lifted the Bulldogs to 1-4 on the young season, while Xavier fell to 2-9.

Mueller's clutch hit came off relief pitcher Bill Konecny with the Bulldogs trailing, 3-2. Freshman Joe Pauley reached base on an error to lead off the seventh frame, and after one out, sophomore Dustin Bucalo reached on an error. Sophomore Aaron Thompson walked to load the bases, and Mueller grounded a two-two pitch into left field, scoring both Pauley and Bucalo.

That proved to be all the runs Butler pitcher Jon Dages needed. The freshman right-hander, who came on in relief of starter Craig Costello in the sixth inning, blanked the Musketeers over the final three innings of the game to earn his first collegiate win. The Bulldogs ended the game with a double-play from second baseman Pauley to shortstop Stephen Gill to first baseman Matt Martino.

Butler jumped in front with a single run off of Xavier starter Steve Sakosits in the second inning. Martino, who was hit by a pitch, scored on an error by Xavier leftfielder Chris Lozan. The Bulldogs added a second run in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Martino and catcher Joe Dempsey.

Costello cruised through the first five innings, but he was tagged for three runs in the sixth. A bunt single by Jordan Wolf, a walk to Jay Johnson and an error on a ground ball by Brett Smith led to a pair of runs. Lozan then drove in the go-ahead run with a double, before Dages came in and stopped the rally .

The Bulldogs had just five hits off of three Xavier pitchers. Dempsey led the way with two of the five hits.

Butler is scheduled to play a single game at Indiana on Thursday, March 10, before leaving on a week-long trip to Alabama. The Bulldogs will play eight games on the trip.

BULLDOG BITS: Senior second baseman Jeff Brown is scheduled to have back surgery in late March, and he?ll be sidelined for the season. He batted .279 for the Bulldogs last year...Returning pitchers Josh Rudolfi and Matt Byzet are both recovering from off-season surgery. Rudolfi is expected to start throwing off a mound after Butler?s spring break, while Byzet could be pitching by mid-March...All-Conference catcher Andy Bulla won't compete for the Bulldogs this season due to the academic commitments of his Physicians Assistant major.