INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Butler softball team fell short in both outings of a weekday home twinbill with in-state foe Indiana State (12-18) on Tuesday, March 31, at the Butler Softball Field. The Sycamores jumped out to a late-game lead in the first game for an 8-3 victory before scoring four unanswered runs to win the second game of the afternoon 4-3.

Sophomore outfielder Brandyce Sallee had a big day at the plate for the Bulldogs, finishing with three hits and two RBIs in seven appearances at the plate. Despite appearing in just the second game of the day, junior Riley Carter picked up three RBIs and one hit, and junior Alex Kotter added three more hits to the Butler total.

The Bulldogs (14-17) jumped out to an early 2-1 lead in the third inning of the first game after a double from Sallee fell deep in center field to score seniors Kristin Boros and Sarah Gronowski. During the next two at-bats, Indiana State pitcher Yvette Alvarez walked Kotter and gave up a left field single to sophomore Chelsea Norwood, loading the bases. The Sycamores made a pitching change, bringing out a familiar face to take on the Butler batters: junior Taylor Lockwood, a former Butler pitcher who transferred to Indiana State after the 2013 season.

Lockwood struck out the next two batters for the Bulldogs, who left all three runners on base at the end of the inning. The Sycamores ( found their stride in the top of fifth inning, scoring six runs while completing an entire rotation through their batting order against Butler pitcher Kacey Starwalt. Trailing 7-2, the Bulldogs scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth as Kotter rounded home plate on a fielding error by the right fielder. The Sycamores scored one more time in the top of the seventh inning, sealing the 8-3 victory.

Lockwood was awarded the win for Indiana State as Starwalt's record fell to 5-2 on the year with a loss. Freshman Ambry Turpen pitched the first three inning for Butler, striking out two batters and giving up just one hit.

"We're giving up too many bad pitches," Butler head coach Scott Hall said. "We've got to back to the basics. It's very frustrating for everybody right now."

In the second game, a strong start gave the Bulldogs another early 3-0 lead through three innings. Riley Carter earned an RBI in the first inning after being walked in a bases-loaded scenario, scoring Boros. Butler scored an additional two runs in the third inning as Carter picked up two more RBIs on a two-out double to left field that drove home Kotter and freshman infielder Alyssa Lach.

The Sycamores battled back in the top of the fourth inning, driving in two runs on a home run from Mary Turitto. Indiana State grabbed the lead in the fifth inning with two more runs, and despite a promising right field single from senior Cassie Rupel in the sixth, the Bulldogs fell just short.

Despite facing just one batter, Indiana State's Ashley Dickerson was awarded the win while Lockwood picked up the save. Butler's Kristin Gutierrez pitched the entire second game, finishing with three strikeouts and eight hits.

After the games, Hall praised his team for their ability to keep energized during tough stretches. "I thought our dugout stayed up for us," Hall said. "I thought we had some good swings at the plate from some of our kids, so we've just got to build on that."

The Bulldogs will try to snap a six-game skid when they take to the road this weekend for a three-game series with Big East foe Providence. The first two games will take place on Thursday, Apr. 2, at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. before wrapping up on Saturday at 12 p.m.

Contact:  Mike Murtaugh (mmurtaug@butler.edu)