SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Butler won the first game at Seton Hall 7-4 behind seven strong innings from
Connor Schultz, but would lose the finale on Saturday by the same score. The Bulldogs are now 6-12 overall with a 1-3 mark in the BIG EAST.
Schultz threw a complete game in the opener, striking out eight and only walking one over seven full innings. His first win on the mound (1-3) came with great run support over the early stages of the contest. BU scored three runs in the first, one in the second and three more in the third to build a 7-0 advantage. All four Seton Hall runs crossed home plate in the fifth.
All six Butler hits came from a different player in game one. The top of the order got things moving in the right direction for Butler. Gargano went 1-for-3 on the day with a walk and two runs scored.
Zach Orn was also productive in the nine-hole with a team-high two RBI.
BU scored three runs in the first off just one hit.
Freddie Matos singled through the left side of the infield to move Gargano around to third. A Pirate throwing error on a fielder's choice helped Butler score their first two runs and
Andy Bennett would be credited with a sac fly to score
Dan Harwood.
In the second,
Aaron Steinhart hit a two-out double down the line in right to score Gargano. BU kept the momentum going in the third with three more runs. The 'Dawgs took advantage of a Seton Hall error to score the first run of that inning and Orn's two-RBI double to center would then score Margroff and McGrath.
SHU avoided the shutout by posting five hits in the fifth inning. All four runs against Schultz were earned.
Game two featured Seton Hall holding onto a 4-0 lead after four innings. The 'Dawgs cut the deficit in half with two runs in the fifth. They would go on to tie it with single runs in the sixth and seventh, but the bottom half of the seventh would send them back home at 1-3 in the conference.
A throwing error and a sac fly in the first gave the home team a quick 2-0 lead. Scotto homered in the fourth to extend the Pirate lead to 4-0. The 'Dawgs got going in the fifth. McGrath scored on a passed ball and Gargano would send Orn home with a single to center.
Bennett got BU within one in the sixth with a double down the right field line to score Matos. Gargano would knot the score at 4-4 the next inning with a solo homer to left.
The Pirates countered with three runs in the seventh. Dana hit a one-out double down the left field line to score Huntzinger and Luders. Toke followed in the order with a double of his own to send Dana around to score.
Gargano went 3-for-5 with two RBI and scored a run in game two.
Dan Harwood also had a multi-hit game for BU.
John MacCauley got the start and threw 5.1 innings. He left with no decision, but struck out four and only walked three. The loss fell to
Alex Voss while the win was credited to Payero (2-1). Waldis entered the game for the four-out save, his second of 2021.
Butler will return to action next weekend with a four-game series at Xavier. Game one is slated for Friday at 3 PM.
