LEESBURG, Fla. – The Butler softball team suffered a 1-0 loss to Ohio State and then rebounded with a 5-0 shutout of Hofstra on Friday at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex near Orlando. The Bulldogs (5-3) managed two hits but could not score against the Buckeyes (4-0). In game two, Hofstra (0-2) produced five hits, but the Butler defense did not allow any of the Pride to cross the plate.
 
Game 1: Butler- 0, Ohio State- 1 (7 innings)
Butler was able to put runners on base, loading the bases in the first inning and putting two on with nobody out in the sixth. The Bulldogs were unable to get any key hits at opportunistic times, as eight total runners were stranded. Bri Avery and Ellie Boyer picked up the only two hits for Butler.
 
Mackenzie Griman (2-1) pitched all six innings for Butler and took the loss. She gave up four hits and one walk to account for one earned run and struck out three.
 
Game 2: Hofstra- 0, Butler- 5 (7 innings)
Gracie Voulgaris (1-3, 2 RBI, 2B) and Sydney Carter (1-3, 2 RBI) each knocked in a couple of teammates, and Ella White (2-3, 2 R) and Mackenzie Griman (2-2, 2 R) each had a pair of hits for Butler.
 
Karli Ricketts (3-1) threw 6.0 innings for the Bulldogs and earned the win. She allowed four hits and one walk while striking out ten. Madison Seigworth (1.0 IP, H, K) came in from the bullpen to share the shutout.
 
Bulldog Bits

• With ten strikeouts, Karli Ricketts now has 349 for her career, just one shy of Leah Bry (2011-2014) who is seventh on Butler's all-time list.
• The combined shutout against Hofstra (Ricketts/Seigworth) was the Bulldogs' third shutout of the season.

Up Next
Butler remains in Leesburg, Fla., for two more games on Saturday, February 19. The Bulldogs will face South Alabama at 11 am and Monmouth (N.J.) at 4 pm.