INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler softball team split the first two games of a BIG EAST series with Seton Hall on Friday. The visiting Pirates (12-12, 4-4) never trailed in game one, winning 8-5, and the Bulldogs (17-9, 5-2) tied game two in the sixth with a home run and then won in the final inning, 4-3, on a dramatic walk-off suicide squeeze play.
 
Game one: Seton Hall- 8, Butler- 5 (7 innings)

• Seton Hall scored two in the first and two in the third to take a 4-0 lead going into the fourth.
• In the fourth, Monique Hoosen drew a walk and, later in the inning, scored on a passed ball.
• In the top of the fifth, the Pirates scored three more and extended their lead to six runs.
• In the bottom half, Hoosen used a sacrifice fly to allow Mackenzie Griman (2-3, 2 RBI, R) to score. One batter later, Maddie Moore (2-4, RBI) singled, pushing Ella White (2-4, R) across. After five, Seton Hall led, 7-3.
• In the sixth, the Bulldogs crept to within three when a two-run single from Griman knocked in Ellie Boyer and Lauren Fey.
• In the final inning, the Pirates added one to end the scoring.

Karli Ricketts (8-2) started for the Bulldogs and took the loss. She allowed five hits and five runs (four earned) along with two walks while striking out seven. Alyssa Graves (3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 K) provided relief from the bullpen.
 
Game two: Seton Hall- 3, Butler- 4 (7 innings)

• Seton Hall scored one in the first, but Butler doubled that in the bottom half when Ella White (1-2, 2 RBI, R, HR) launched a home run that also scored Lauren Fey (1-3, R, SB). The Dawgs were up, 2-1, going into the second.
• In the fourth, the Pirates took a 3-2 lead on a two-run single.
• In the sixth, Gracie Voulgaris hit a solo home run to tie the score, 3-3.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Bri Avery (1-3, R, SB) singled on a bunt and stole second. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Fey. With a dramatic call, Avery came charging from third, after Ellie Boyer laid down a bunt, and slid in just under the tag for the winning run.

Mackenzie Griman (6 H, 3 runs (all earned), 2 BB, K) started in the circle for the Bulldogs, pitching four complete innings. She was relieved by Alyssa Graves (7-3) who picked up the win. Graves faced nine batters, allowing only one walk while striking out five.
 
Bulldog Bits

• Lauren Fey's two stolen bases were the 42nd and 43rd of her career, moving her into the fifth position on Butler's all-time list.
• With three stolen bases on the day, Bri Avery now has 12 for the season and 32 for her career. She is now eighth on Butler's all-time list.
• Gracie Voulgaris' home run in game two was her first in a Butler Bulldogs uniform.
• Ella White's home run was her second of the season.
• The win in game two today brings Coach Scott Hall (in his 12th season) to an overall record of 263-286-1, tying him with Barb Greenburg for the most wins all-time at Butler. Greenburg, who coached from 1981 through 1994, was the program's first coach and attained a career record of 263-226-4.

Up Next
The three-game series with Seton Hall concludes in Indianapolis on Sunday, Mar. 27, with game three at 12 pm.