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MASON, Ohio – Butler took a 12-8 loss to St. John's on Friday night at Prasco Park. The Bulldogs scored two in the top of the first and six over the final three frames, but the top-seeded Johnnies would hold on to move to the BIG EAST Championship game.
Gehrig Parker made a statement in the top of the first with a solo home run over the wall in right to give BU the lead. A double steal would make the game 2-0 as
Garrett Christman took second and
Michael Hartnagel would break for home. Christman got the throw down to second base and Hartnagel would score standing as a result.
A three-run homer by Stampfl would erase the early lead and give STJ a 3-2 advantage. The Red Storm would score four more runs in the second and five in the third to take a commanding lead.
Butler would plate four runs in the seventh to make the game interesting.
Connor Dall came up with a pinch-hit RBI single, and Parker would record his second RBI of the game with a chopper to first base. The seventh inning would also include a two-RBI double from Hartnagel that landed in front of the STJ right fielder and just past the Johnnie second baseman.
Butler's comeback trail would include two more runs in the ninth. Senior
Cole Malloy would deliver a pinch-hit homer to lead off the ninth, marking his first hit of the season. Dall followed in the order with a ground-rule double and a St. John's pitching change would follow the at-bat. The 'Dawgs would score their final run off a costly double-play ball that helped St. John's get out of trouble.
Parker paced the Bulldogs with a 3-for-4 game that included two RBI and a run scored. Hartnagel, Christman and Dall also recorded multi-hit games.
The loss went to
Sam Hubbe who was hit with seven earned runs in just 1.2 innings of work.
Connor Schultz,
John MacCauley and
Landen Haney also saw time on the mound. Haney was awesome in his three full innings. He limited STJ to just one hit while striking out one.
Butler will play Seton Hall in an elimination game tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM. The winner will face St. John's on Sunday afternoon at 1 PM. The game will air live on FS2.
