Bulldogs Drop Two Games In The Final Inning

DAYTON, OHIO -- Butler staged two late-inning rallies, but came up short both times and wound up dropping a doubleheader at Wright State by scores of 6-5 and 5-4 on Friday, April 29.  The two setbacks dropped the Bulldogs from first place in the Horizon League standings.

The Bulldogs (26-21, 12-7 Horizon League) jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first game on a two-run triple by Callie Dennison in the second inning and a run-scoring ground out by Erin Falkenberry in the third.  But Wright State struck back with a single run in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead heading into the final frame.

Erin Jackson led off Butler’s seventh with her third hit of the game and advanced to second base when Lauren McNulty was safe on a fielder’s choice play.  Jackson reached third on Erin Falkenberry’s fly ball to right field and then, with two outs, scored the tieing run on a pinch-hit single by Alyssa Coleman.  Meaghan Sullivan followed with a single to right field to score McNulty with the go-ahead run.

The lead was short-lived.  Wright State opened the seventh inning with back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases.  The lead runner was called out on interference, but three more walks forced in the tieing and game-winning runs.

Wright State (21-24, 10-8 HL) kept the momentum going in the second game and carried a 4-0 lead into the seventh inning.  But the Bulldogs again rebounded with a late rally.

Jenny Esparza led off the Butler seventh with a home run to left-center field, and with one out Devin Dearing walked.  Jackson reached on a fielder’s choice, but pinch runner Rachel Brummer was out on the play.  Sullivan followed with a single, McNulty reached on a fielding error with Jackson scoring on the play.  A walk to Falkenberry loaded the bases, and Jessica Huey tied the game with a two-run single.

But the Raider bounced back with a run in the bottom of the seventh to post their third straight final inning victory.

Jackson led the Bulldogs with four hits and three runs scored on the afternoon, while Dennison and Huey each had a pair of RBI’s on the day.  Espzara (13-7) suffered the loss in the opener, while Breanna Fisher (3-4) took the setback in the second.

The Bulldogs will continue their six-game road trip with a pair of games at league-leading Loyola on Saturday.  The three-game series will conclude with a single game on Sunday.