April 10, 2003
Butler scored four times in the top of the tenth inning to claim a 6-2 victory over host IPFW and gain a split in a doubleheader at the IPFW Baseball Field in Fort Wayne on Wednesday, April 9. The Mastodons won the opening-game, 1-0, despite getting just one hit in the contest.
The Bulldogs, who climbed to 18-14 on the season, scored four times after two outs in their final inning of the second game. Senior Jared Lowe, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored the eventual game-winner on a single by freshman Justin McKinley and a throwing error by losing pitcher Adam Ferris. McKinley scored on a bunt single by pinch-hitter Jason Freeman and, two walks later, Freeman and senior Rex Eaton scored on a single by sophomore Jonathan Day.
Freshman lefthander Brian Smith replaced winning pitcher Dan Fair (1-0) in the bottom of the tenth inning and blanked the Mastodons in their final at bat.
Butler had taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run single by outfielder Shane Winkler, but IPFW battled back to tie the game with single runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings.
The first game of the twinbill was dominated by pitching. Three Butler hurlers combined to blank IPFW on no hits through the first five innings. The Mastodons finally broke the deadlock in the bottom of the sixth inning on a single by Zach Walton a hit batter and a throwing error. Walton's single was IPFW's only hit of the game.
IPFW's Kellen Marshall pitched all seven innings for the Mastodons and blanked the Bulldogs on five hits. Sophomore Jon Olson, who pitched the sixth inning for the Bulldogs, fell to 1-3 on the season with the loss.
Butler will return to Horizon League play with a four-game series against UIC at Bulldog Park. The first game of the series will be played on Friday, April 11, at 3 p.m.