GAME NOTES
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will host a three game series against Seton Hall this weekend. Games one and two of the series will stream on Facebook Live. All three contests will have live stats on ButlerSports.com.
Bulldog Bits
- Sunday's game will now start at 12 PM
-
Tyler Houston leads the BIG EAST in hits (50) and total bases (78)
- Houston recorded three hits, two RBI, and two runs scored last year vs. SHU
-
Gehrig Parker led Butler with five hits, three runs, and two RBI vs SHU last year
- Mitchell faced McCarthy on Sunday last year. Mitchell helped BU win 4-1
- Billy Layne Jr. faced one BU batter last year and was taken out after walking him
- BU went 2-1 at Seton Hall last year...The teams are even at 6-6 since 2014
- Christman and Houston rank 2-3 among BIG EAST hitters in batting average
-
Michael Hartnagel has reached base safely in 31-straight games
- Butler is 18-0 when leading after six innings
- Butler has outscored their opponents 32-6 in the second inning
- Butler has the best winning percentage of any team in the BIG EAST (.750)
- Hubbe moves into the rotation this weekend and Pepiot will move to the bullpen
BIG EAST Standings
St. John's 6-0, 22-10
Butler 4-1, 24-8
Seton Hall 2-1, 14-14-1
Georgetown 2-1, 14-20
Xavier 2-4, 12-24
Creighton 1-4, 21-10
Villanova 0-6, 6-22
Scouting Seton Hall
Seton Hall lost to Monmouth 10-3 on Wednesday afternoon to move their overall record to 14-14-1. The one tie came early in the year at Oklahoma State (3-3). The Pirates hosted Xavier last weekend and took two of three from the Musketeers. They are 5-3 at home this year, but just 5-9-1 on the road. Top players in the Pirate lineup include Mike Alescio, Rob Dadona, and Al Molina. Alescio has the highest batting average on the team (.322) and leads the club in runs (20). Dadona ranks second on the team with a .314 average and the third member of this trio bats .312 from the plate. Molina leads the team with 14 doubles. The team leader in RBIs is Sebastia Santorelli with 22.
A Year Ago
Butler won the first and last game of the weekend series a year ago. Three runs in the sixth pushed the Bulldogs to a 6-2 win in the opener. SHU pulled even with a 7-1 victory the following day, but the Bulldogs would win the series by claiming a 4-1 win on Sunday afternoon.
Connor Mitchell picked up the win in the getaway game and
Garrett Christman was credited with the save.
Harrison Freed and
Connor Dall were responsible for all four BU RBIs.
Break Out The Brooms
Butler swept Villanova last weekend to improve to 4-1 in the BIG EAST Conference. The weekend results were significant as Butler swept a BIG EAST opponent in a three-game series for the first time since joining the conference back in 2014.
Houston Holds Career Runs Record at BU
Tyler Houston has scored more runs over his four-year career at BU than any other Bulldog in school history. Houston heads into the weekend series with 154 runs scored in his career. The old record of 150 was held by Dale Mueller ('02-'05).
Midweek Recap
Butler defeated Eastern Illinois 6-3 on Tuesday afternoon.
Joe Graziano was credited with the win (3-0) and
Jack Pilcher recorded his team-high fifth save of the season.
Tyler Houston led the team offensively with three hits, two RBI and two runs scored. BU seniors accounted for nine of the 11 BU hits on the day.
Hartnagel Named to BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Michael Hartnagel hit .389 (7-for-18) and scored five runs, three doubles, with five RBI as Butler went undefeated at 5-0 for the week. He was perfect in the field with 15 assists and seven putouts.
Up Next
Butler will play four non-conference games next week to close the month of April. The 'Dawgs play at IU-Kokomo on Tuesday and host Miami Ohio on Wednesday. The weekend will feature a home game against Illinois State on Saturday. Sunday's game vs. the Redbirds will move to Illinois State.
