CHICAGO, Ill. – The Butler softball team split a doubleheader with DePaul on Sunday, losing game two of the three-game series, 7-6, and winning the finale, 4-3, in eight innings. The Blue Demons (11-14, 1-2 BIG EAST) hit a walk-off home run to win the initial contest of the day and then scored three in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings in the final game. The Bulldogs (16-8, 4-1 BIG EAST) scored one in the eighth and Alyssa Graves retired three of the next four batters as Butler ultimately took two of three in the BIG EAST series.

Game two: Butler- 6, DePaul- 7 (7 innings)

• In the top of the first, Teagan O'Rilley hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Lauren Fey (3-4, R) to score from third and putting the Bulldogs on the board first. The Blue Demons sent one of their own across in the bottom half, tying the score, 1-1.
• In the second, DePaul hit a home run to pull ahead, 2-1.
• One inning later, Ellie Boyer (2-4, RBI, R, SB) hit a single, scoring Bri Avery (2-3, R, 2B). Two batters later, O'Rilley launched one over the fence, and her run along with Boyer's put Butler up, 4-2.
• The Blue Demons used a sacrifice fly to plate one in the bottom half of the third and pulled to within one, 4-3.
• In the fifth, a Monique Hoosen (2-3, 2 RBI, R, HR, BB) dinger to left field also scored Ella White, and the Dawgs were pulling away, 6-3, but a DePaul three-run homer tied things up, 6-6, in the bottom half.
• In the bottom of the seventh, the Blue Demons hit a walk-off home run, winning by a final score of 7-6.

Alyssa Graves (0.1 IP, R, ER, 3 BB) started in the circle for Butler. Karlie Ricketts (3.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB, 2 K) relieved her in the first inning, and Mackenzie Griman (2-4) finished the game. Griman, who took the loss, pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing one hit, one run (earned) and two walks.
 
Game three: Butler- 4, DePaul- 3 (8 innings)

• The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the first but came away empty.
• In the second inning, Maddie Moore was hit by a pitch and then scored when Kaylee Gross tripled, making the score 1-0 Butler.
• The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the fourth and again could not cross the plate, while DePaul stranded two runners in both the third and fourth innings.
• In the sixth, Monique Hoosen hit her second home run of the day, and four batters later, Lauren Fey knocked in Bri Avery with a double. Butler now led, 3-0.
• In the bottom of the seventh, DePaul tied the game with three runs, forcing extra innings.
• In the top of the eighth, Ella White reached on a double and scored on an Avery sacrifice fly, and the Bulldogs held on for the 4-3 win.

Alyssa Graves (6-3) went the full eight innings for Butler and picked up the win. She allowed seven hits, three runs (two earned), and four walks while striking out eight.
 
Bulldog Bits

• Mackenzie Griman's home run in game one (Saturday) was her fourth of the season and the eighth of her career.
• The game two home run by Teagan O'Rilley's was her second of the season and the third of her career.
• Monique Hoosen's two home runs were her fifth and sixth of the season and the eighth and ninth of her career. This is the second time this season she hit home runs in consecutive games on the same day (Feb. 26, Chattanooga/SIU).
• The RBI triple from Kaylee Gross in game three was the first triple of her career.
• In the two games combined, Butler outhit DePaul, 22-13. Lauren Fey led the Bulldogs with five hits and Bri Avery added four.
• Alyssa Graves has now pitched 481.0 innings in her career and has moved into the seventh position on Butler's all-time list.

Up Next
Butler will return to Indianapolis to play its first home games of the season, hosting Seton Hall for a three-game series, Mar. 25-27. Game times are 3 pm Friday, 1 pm Saturday, and 1 pm Sunday.