Butler Begins League Play With Twinbill Sweep
March 31, 2007
Butler began Horizon League play the same way it ended pre-league action - with a doubleheader sweep. The Bulldogs stretched their current winning streak to five straight games with back-to-back victories over Wright State, 5-1 and 7-4, at the WSU Softball Field in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday, March 31. The two wins lifted Butler to 13-10 overall and 2-0 in league play.
Head coach Jeanne Rayman's club again turned to a strong offensive game and solid pitching to pick up the two league victories. The Bulldogs had 21 hits in the two games and three different Butler pitchers combined to limit the Raiders (11-16, 0-2) to 10 hits and five runs. Butler trailed for just one inning in the two contests.
Junior Amy Hyerczyk led the Bulldogs in the opener with two hits and three runs batted in, while sophomore Alex Boros added three hits and one RBI. Butler took control of the game with four runs in the top of the third inning. Hyerczyk sparked that rally with a three-run double down the leftfield line. Boros drove in the fourth run with a single.
Senior Jamie Wonderly, who picked up one of Butler's two non-league wins over Notre Dame College one day earlier, held the Raiders in check for six innings, before giving way to freshman Kristen Malinkey in the seventh inning. Wonderly improved to 6-3 on the year, while Malinkey picked up her first collegiate save.
In the second contest, the Bulldogs overcame a 1-0 deficit with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Melissa Shofroth had a two-run double in the inning to give Butler the lead for good, and sophomore Annie Dolan added a run-scoring double.
Senior Jenny Jacobs slammed her fourth home run of the season to leftfield in the top of the fifth inning. Her two-run shot gave Butler a 5-1 lead.
Freshman Jennifer Chasteen pitched six strong innings to earn her second victory in as many days. She improved to 5-2 on the year. Malinkey pitched the seventh inning and earned her second save.
Freshman Bridget Paine had three of Butler's 10 hits in the nightcap, while Dolan chipped in with two hits.
Butler and Wright State will conclude their three-game series in Dayton on Sunday, April 1. The single game at the WSU Softball Field will start at 1 p.m.
