Butler Sweeps Doubleheader At Dayton

DAYTON, OHIO -- Pitchers Jenny Esparza, Jennifer Chasteen and Breanna Fisher allowed just eight hits and two runs in 14 innings and led Butler to a sweep of two games in a non-league doubleheader at Dayton on Wednesday (April 6).  The Bulldogs won the first game, 2-1, and then completed the sweep with a 4-1 victory in the nightcap.

Esparza went the distance in the opener and limited the Flyers to a single run on three hits.  The Butler sophomore struck out 15 batters and walked just two in her complete-game victory.  The win was her sixth in 10 decisions this spring.

The Bulldogs, who trailed 1-0 through the first four innings, grabbed the lead in the fifth frame on an infield single by Kayla Gray, a run-scoring double by Erin Jackson and a run-scoring single by Meaghan Sullivan.  The two hits were among six collected by the Bulldogs in the win.

Chasteen started and pitched the first five innings of the second contest.  She allowed one run on five hits, while striking out four.  Fisher allowed no hits and blanked the Flyers over the final two innings.  The senior righthander finished with three strikeouts and no walks.

Butler (18-11) jumped in front in the first inning on a two-out single by Lauren McNulty, a Dayton error and a run-scoring single by Erin Falkenberry.  McNulty led of the fourth inning with a solo home run, and the Bulldogs added two more in the fifth frame on consecutive singles by Jackson, Sullivan and McNulty and a Dayton error that allowed two runs to score.

Jackson had four hits in eight trips to the plate in the twinbill, while McNulty had three hits in seven at bats.  The Bulldogs out-hit Dayton, 16-8, in the two games.

Butler will be in action on Thursday, April 7, with a non-league doubleheader at Notre Dame.  The first game of the twinbill is slated to start at 4 p.m.