LEESBURG, Fla. – The Butler softball team dropped its final two games of the Spring Games, losing to both Marshall and Colgate on Sunday. The Bulldogs went 1-5 in the opening weekend of the season.
Game 5: Marshall- 7, Butler- 3 (7 innings)
After threatening in the first inning, Butler took an early lead in the second.
Kieli Ryan (2-3, 2B) drew a walk and advanced on a
Sydney Carter sacrifice bunt.
Olivia Moxley then doubled, sending Ryan across and putting the Bulldogs up, 1-0.
In the third, Marshall's offense awoke. The Herd generated six hits and took a 6-1 lead into the fourth.
In the top of the sixth, Butler strung together three singles to load the bases with nobody out.
Cate Lehner knocked in one, and
Kaylee Gross drew a walk to force in a second, but the Bulldogs stranded three. The Herd held on to a 6-3 lead.
Marshall added a home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Rylyn Dyer (1-2) started for Butler in the circle and took the loss. In 2.2 innings, she gave up five runs on six hits and one walk, striking out one.
Sydney Cammon (3.1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, K) came in for relief in the third inning.
Game 6: Colgate- 13, Butler- 2 (5 innings)
Colgate was on the scoreboard early, scoring five runs in the first inning. The Raiders added two in the third, two in the fourth, and four more in the top of the fifth, taking a 13-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth,
Morgan Robertson singled, advanced to second on an
Ellie Boyer walk, and advanced to third when
Ella White hit into a fielder's choice.
Emily Todor lined a single to left field, knocking in Robertson, and then
Loren Simpson singled to center, sending White across the plate and ending the scoring.
Mackenzie Griman (0-3) started for the Bulldogs and took the loss. She left after two outs in the first and returned in the fourth through part of the fifth. Overall, she faced 15 batters, giving up eight runs on five hits and five walks.
Rylyn Dyer (2.2 IP, 4 R, 1 ER, 5 H) and
Kayla Noerr (1 IP, R, 0 ER, H, K) both provided relief.
Bulldog Bits
- Kieli Ryan's two hits vs. Marshall, including a double, were the first hits of her collegiate career.
- Loren Simpson's double vs. Marshall was her first of the season and the 10th of her career.
- Olivia Moxley's double vs. Marshall was her first hit as a Bulldog.
- Morgan Robertson's single vs. Colgate was the first hit of her career.
- Emily Todor hit a single vs. Colgate in her first collegiate at bat.
Up Next
Butler will travel to Miami, Fla., to play in the Panther Invitational at Florida International from Feb. 17 – Feb. 19. Scheduled opponents include Missouri, FIU, and Pitt.
