Bulldogs Continue To Roll In Florida

ORLANDO, FLA. -- Sophomore Jenny Esparza led Butler to a 5-1 victory over Bucknell in the first game of the day, and the Bulldogs pulled out a 5-4 extra inning decision over Hartford in the second contest at the Rebel Games in Orlando, Fla., on Tuesday.  The two wins boosted the Bulldogs to a 5-1 record in Florida.

Esparza struck out 13 batters in five innings, while giving up just one run on three hits.  She picked up her third win in six decisions this spring.  Senior Jennifer Chasteen blanked Bucknell over the final two innings to extend her streak of innings without allowing an earned run to 26.2.

Butler (7-6) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.  Sophomore Meaghan Sullivan stole home for the first run and junior Jessica Huey drove in the second with a double.  The Bulldogs added two more runs in the second inning and a single run in the sixth frame.

Sullivan led Butler’s 10-hit attack with three hits in three trips to the plate.  Huey, who had two doubles in the game, Erin Falkenberry and Lauren Ott each added a pair of hits.

The Bulldogs pulled out the second game in eight innings.  Senior Erin Jackson began the eighth frame of the 4-4 contest on second base, under the international tie-breaker rules, and she advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ott.  Sophomore Kayla Gray then singled home the winning run.

Sullivan was three for five in the game, while Huey added two doubles in three trips to the plate.  Falkenberry slugged a two-run, home run, her third round-tripper in two days.

Breanna Fisher tossed six innings for the Bulldogs, before giving way to freshman Leah Bry, who picked up the victory.