Probable Starters
RHP Garrett Christman vs. LHP Mason Kutruff
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will only play one game this week as they step away from BIG EAST action. The 'Dawgs will host the Dayton Flyers on Tuesday at 4 PM.
 
About Butler (23-16)
The Bulldogs played five games last week, splitting midweek action against Eastern Illinois and Indiana but losing all three games at Xavier. The contest on Tuesday against the Panthers didn't go Butler's way as EIU posted a 10-6 win at Bulldog Park by using the long ball. Butler seemed to get back on track with a 7-5 road win at Indiana, but they slipped over the weekend to move their overall record to 23-16.
 
Michael Hartnagel continues to lead the team with a .370 batting average. The hottest bat in the BU lineup however belongs to Jordan Lucio. The BU first baseman has increased his average to .312 in recent weeks. Lucio is now second on the team with 39 total hits. He has a .417 on-base percentage and is fourth on the team with 18 RBI.
 
Butler's RBI leader is centerfielder Tyler Houston. The junior has a team-high nine home runs to go along with his 30 RBI. Houston's numbers also include a .283 BA, 11 doubles, and a team-high 15 stolen bases.
 
Tuesday's start will go to utility player Garrett Christman. The right-hander is 1-2 on the year with a 5.70 ERA. Christman can play third base or jump into the lineup as the team's designated hitter. He will be making his fourth start of the year and has 20 strikeouts in 23.2 innings of work.
 
Scouting Dayton (12-27)
The Flyers are now 12-27 overall after dropping two of three at Saint Louis over the weekend. Connor Echols has been an impact player in the Dayton batting order. A starter in all 38 games, Echols is batting .273 on the year with a team-high 22 RBI. 11 of his team-best 42 hits have gone for extra bases. Brandon Smith and Tate Hagan join Echos as players on the roster with 20+ RBI. Smith is the home run leader on the squad with seven. Hagan holds a .264 batting average and leads the team with 24 runs scored.
 
As a team, Dayton posts a .240 batting average and a 6.23 ERA. Tuesday's starter will be left-handed pitcher Mason Kutruff. Kutruff will be making his eighth start of the year. He is 2-5 this season with an 8.03 ERA. Over 37 full innings of action, Kutruff has 29 strikeouts and 20 walks. The opposition is batting .365 against him this season.
 
Last Year vs. Dayton
Dayton recorded a 3-0 win on their home diamond against Butler last year. Michael Hartnagel and Jordan Lucio each recorded two hits in the setback. The hit total rounded out with Gehrig Parker and Garrett Christman finding room against the Dayton defense. Two of the three runs scored by the Flyers were unearned. The lone earned run came on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded.
 
Indianapolis Forecast
Tuesday's forecast is nearly perfect for baseball. The high is 75 degrees and there is only a 10 percent chance of rain.
 
Hitting Streaks
Michael Hartnagel's 19-game hitting streak came to an end over the weekend after an 0-5 performance at Xavier on Friday. His streak started on March 19 at home against Saint Louis and ran until April 19 in a Butler win at Indiana. This year's streak fell one hit short of tying his career-best streak of 20-straight games. The longest current streak by a Bulldog is now held by Jordan Lucio who has a hit in four-straight games.
 
Team National Rankings
Stat, Ranking (Value)
Hits Allowed Per Nine Innings, 25th (7.86)
Earned Run Average, 44th (3.72)
Strikeouts Per Nine Innings, 87th (8.2)
WHIP, 67th (1.36)
 
Individual National Rankings
Player; Stat, Ranking (Value)
Chris Myjak; Saves, 26th (8)**
Ryan Pepiot; Strikeouts Per Nine Innings, 62nd (10.73)
Jeff Schank; Earned Run Average, 46th (2.01)
Jeff Schank; Strikeouts, 35th (74)
Tyler Houston; Stolen Bases, 46th (15)
Tyler Houston; Home Runs, 75th (9)
Michael Hartnagel; Batting Average, 84th (.370)
Michael Hartnagel; Doubles, 96th (13)**
Connor Mitchell; Hits Allowed Per Nine Innings, 54th (6.41)
** - Leads BIG EAST Conference
 
Up Next
Butler will step away from BIG EAST action this weekend. Their next game will be on the road at Miami Ohio on Tuesday, May 3.