Bulldogs Fall In Extra Innings At Cleveland State

May 11, 2007

Box Score

Freshman Lia Gordon hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead host Cleveland State past Butler, 2-1, in an elimination game at the 2007 Horizon League Softball Championship at Viking Field on Friday (May 11). The loss ended Butler's bid for the league title and sent the Bulldogs home with a 26-24 overall record.

Gordon's leadoff shot over the left field fence broke up a pitching duel between Butler's Jamie Wonderly and Cleveland State's Amanda Macenko. Wonderly (9-10) allowed just two earned runs on nine hits in eight innings of work. Macenko (26-9) limited the Bulldogs to just four hits in nine innings, while striking out seven batters. She did not allow an earned run.

The Vikings (32-13) scored first in the game on a double by Haley Keller and a two-out single by Jessica Burt in the third inning.

Butler tied the score one inning later when sophomore Annie Dolan reached on a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Keller. She moved to third on a fielder's choice by junior Jenny Jacobs and scored Butler's lone run on a sacrifice fly to left field by junior Amy Hyerczyk.

The two starting pitchers then ran off a string of four consecutive scoreless innings, before Gordon's game-winner.

Freshman Bridget Paine had two of Butler's four hits. Senior Jill Meinhold and Dolan each had one hit.

The Bulldogs, under first-year head coach Jeanne Rayman, tied the school record for victories in a season. The squad also posted Butler's first winning softball season since 1991.