Jenny Esparza Earns Horizon League Pitcher of the Week Honors

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Freshman Jenny Esparza has been named Horizon League softball Pitcher of the Week for the period ending March 14.  It’s the second time in her young career that the first-year pitcher has been honored by the league.

Esparza was virtually untouchable on Butler’s week-long trip to Florida.  In three starts and one relief appearance, she compiled a 0.00 earned run average with 41 strikeouts in 27 innings.  The Butler pitcher had 18 strikeouts and allowed just one hit in a 7-0 victory over South Dakota, and she tossed a one-hitter through 5 1/3 innings in the Bulldogs’ 3-0 win over Robert Morris.  In her one relief stint, she allowed no hits and struck out nine in four innings against Lehigh.

The Avon, Ind., native also was named Horizon League Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 22, following her first week of collegiate play.

Butler completed the Florida trip with a 10-0 record and improved to 13-2 on the season, the best start in school history.