Butler Splits Twinbill At IPFW

March 20, 2004

Box Score

Freshman Tony Barnes had three hits and drove in three runs to help Butler to a 7-3 victory over host IPFW in the second game of a doubleheader at Mastodons Field in Fort Wayne on Saturday (March 20). The Bulldogs dropped the opening game, 5-3, and finished the afternoon with a 5-10 overall record.

Barnes sparked an 11-hit hit attack by the Bulldogs in the nightcap. He tied the game at 2-2 with a solo home run in the third inning, and he gave the Bulldogs the lead for good with a run-scoring single in the top of the fifth inning. The Butler third baseman added another run-scoring single in the sixth inning.

The Bulldogs also picked up a pair of hits each from second baseman Justin Mckinley, catcher Joe Dempsey and shortstop Stephen Gill, while designated hitter Andy Bulla clubbed his third home run of the young season.

Sophomore lefthander Craig Costello, who came on in relief of starter Matt Byzet in the third inning, pitched five strong innings and picked up his first win of the season. Costello allowed just one run in his five inning stint, while striking out six IPFW batters.

Butler jumped to a 3-0 lead in the opening game behind a run-scoring single by leftfielder Jason Freeman and a two-run single by centerfielder Matt Crews. But the Mastodons answered with two runs in the bottom of the third inning and three runs in the fifth inning off of Butler starter Luke Behning (1-2).

Crews had three hits in four trips to the plate in the opener.

The doubleheader between the two squads scheduled for Sunday, March 21, has been cancelled because of cold weather. The Bulldogs will return to action at home on against Indiana Tech on Tuesday, March 23, at 3 p.m.