Indianapolis, Ind. – The Bulldogs picked up two wins on Sunday to win the four-game series over Eastern Illinois, 3-1.
Game One
The Bulldogs captured a 2-0 victory in the first game, with both runs coming in the second inning.
Billy Wurch got things rolling for the Dawgs with a solo shot to left-center to put Butler up 1-0. Three batters later,
Garret Gray hit an RBI double to left-center field, knocking home
James Gargano and giving the Bulldogs the 2-0 advantage.
The rest of the game was a battle on both sides.
Cole Graverson, who was credited with the win, faced seven batters, striking out five of them. Behind Graverson's dominant two and a third hitless innings on the mound, Butler was able to head into the final two innings with
Derek Drees on the mound.
Drees faced nine batters in two innings of work. He struck out one and gave up one hit en route to the save.
Game Two
The second game of the day was similar in fashion to the first. Only three total runs were scored after the game needed extras to decide the winner.
The Bulldogs got on the board first in the fifth inning when
Scott Jones was up at the plate. He reached on an error by the shortstop with
Nick Ortega on first and
Kollyn All on second. The error allowed for Ortega to advance to third and All to make it home to but the Bulldogs up, 1-0.
EIU had the bases loaded in the sixth inning when Nicholas Rucker got up to the plate. Nicholas singled to center field, bringing home Logan Eickhoff from third to tie things up at one a piece.
Adrian Vega pitched four and a third innings for the Bulldogs facing 15 batters. In those four-plus innings of work, Vega recorded five strikeouts and held EIU to zero hits.
John MacCauley started the game for the Bulldogs and pitched five and a third, facing 24 batters and striking out three while only allowing four hits.
Dawson Taylor Finished things off for the Bulldogs in the 10th inning, helping retire the side and earn the victory.
Scott Jones came to the plate with two on in the bottom of the tenth. With
Travis Holt on first and
Kyle Van Liere on second, Jones connected with one sending it to center field. The ball dropped close to the center fielder, and as it hit the ground, Van Liere rounded third and the Bulldogs captured the win on a walk-off for the second time of the weekend.
The Bulldogs are back in action on Tuesday, April 5, as they travel to South Bend to take on the #16 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.