Butler Splits Twinbill At Cleveland State

May 10, 2003

Box Score

Shortstop Jared Lowe had four hits and three runs batted in and third baseman Jeff Albert belted a pair of home runs to help lead Butler to a 15-2 victory over host Cleveland State in the second game of Horizon League doubleheader at Memorial Field in Euclid, Ohio, on Saturday, May 10. The Vikings won the first game, 5-2.

Lowe sparked a 19-hit Butler attack in the second game with four hits in five trips to the plate. He had a pair of doubles, and he scored three runs. Albert slugged two home runs and drove in five runs in the contest. He hit a three-run shot in the first inning to give the Bulldogs all the runs they needed.

Six different Butler players turned in multiple-hit efforts. Catcher Tim Marks had three hits in four trips to the plate, including a home run, and he drove in a pair of runs, while outfielder Dale Mueller was three for five with two RBI's. Freshman Justin McKinley had a pair of hits, including a home run, and outfielder Jason Freeman added two hits.

Freshman righthander Luke Behning went the distance on the mound for the Bulldogs and improved to 6-2 on the season. He allowed one earned run on seven hits and had three strikeouts, while recording his third career complete game.

Butler (27-23, 12-7 Horizon League) dropped the opener, 5-2. The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead in the game, but Cleveland State (9-33, 3-15 Horizon League) answered with five runs in the final six innings to claim the victory. Sophomore Jon Olson pitched the first five innings for Butler and suffered his fourth setback in six decisions.

Lowe and Jason Freeman each had two hits in the game, but the Bulldogs managed just five hits as a team. Mueller went hitless in three official trips to the plate and had his hitting streak snapped at 15 consecutive games.

Butler and Cleveland State will close their four-game series with a single, nine-inning game on Sunday, May 11.