Jenny Esparza Named League Pitcher of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Junior Jenny Esparza, who returned to Butler’s rotation after a three-week absence, has been named Horizon League Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 26-April 1.  She’s the second Butler player to be honored this spring.

Esparza, sidelined since March 3 with a hamstring injury, made four appearances for the Bulldogs during the week and recorded three victories.  She allowed just one run in 19 innings of work, while chalking up 29 strikeouts.

The Butler righthander returned to action as a starter against Eastern Illinois, and she pitched four shutout innings against Eastern Illinois.  She had 10 strikeouts, no walks and allowed no hits in her initial outing of the week.

The Avon, Ind., product then pitched the first four innings of Butler’s 8-1 victory at Michigan State.  She gave up two hits and one walk, while striking out seven.  Esparza finished the week with a pair of victories over league foe Loyola.  She tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout to open the three-game series, and then pitched the first four innings of Butler’s 4-0 win in the series finale.  In the two games, she allowed just five hits and one walk, while striking out 12.

Esparza posted a 0.47 earned run average for the week, while holding the four Butler opponents to a .129 batting average.

Earlier this spring, Butler senior Breanna Fisher was chosen as Horizon League Pitcher of the Week.

Butler will visit Indiana State for a non-league doubleheader on Wednesday, April 4, before hosting UIC in the three-game, Horizon League series starting on Friday, April 6.