INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler softball team won game three of its series with DePaul, 13-5, completing a three-game sweep to open BIG EAST play. The Bulldogs (7-18, 3-0 BIG EAST) and the Blue Demons (8-11, 0-3 BIG EAST) both scored in their respective frames in each of the first four innings, and Butler led, at that point, 9-5. Four additional runs from the Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth ended the game early.
Game 3: Butler 13 - DePaul 5 (6 innings)
DePaul scored one in the first inning, but Butler responded in the bottom half.
Kaylee Gross (4-4, 3 R, SB) hit a bunt single, and
Sydney Carter doubled to left field, bringing Gross home and tying the game, 1-1. An
Ella White sacrifice bunt pushed Carter to third, and a
Teagan O'Rilley (2-4, RBI) single sent her home and gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead.
In the second, the Blue Demons scored two and regained the lead, 3-2. In the bottom half,
Monique Hoosen led off with a walk, and, an
Olivia Moxley (3-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) single, coupled with a fielding error, put Bulldogs on second and third with nobody out. DePaul made a pitching change.
Cate Lehner then hit a sacrifice line drive to left field, sending Hoosen home, and Gross's follow-up hit to right again put runners on second and third. After White walked and loaded the bases, a
Paige Dorsett (3-4, 2 RBI) single, through the left, side scored Moxley and Gross. The Blue Demons made a second pitching change to retire the side, but Butler was up, 5-3, after two.
DePaul hit a solo home run in the top of the third, but Moxley matched it for the Bulldogs with her second dinger of the season. After three, Butler still led, 6-4.
In the fourth, the Blue Demons scored their final run. In the bottom half, after a Gross single and a Carter walk, White blasted a three-run bomb just inside the left field pole. The 9-5 lead held for the Bulldogs though five-and-a-half.
In the bottom of the sixth, a White walk, a Dorsett single, and an O'Rilley single loaded the bases with nobody out.
Kieli Ryan (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R) hit a single that was misplayed, allowing all three baserunners to cross the plate, while Ryan stopped at second. After another DePaul pitching change, Moxley hit a single to left that pushed Ryan across and ended the game.
Rylyn Dyer (3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) started for Butler and lasted through one batter in the top of the fourth inning.
Sydney Cammon (1-4) went the rest of the way and picked up her first win at Butler. In 3.0 innings, she did not allow a run, only conceding one hit and two walks, while striking out one.
Bulldog Bits
- Ella White's home run was her second of the season and the seventh of her career.
- Olivia Moxley's home run was her second of the season.
- Sydney Carter's double was her third of the season and the fifth of her career.
- Kieli Ryan's double was her sixth of the season and her fourth in the last four games.
- Kaylee Gross produced a career-high four hits in the game. Her stolen base was her sixth of the season and the eighth of her career.
- Sydney Cammon's win in the circle was her first at Butler after transferring for graduate school.
- Butler scored a season-high 13 runs. The previous high was nine (3/4 – Loyola-Chicago).
- Kaylee Gross batted .778 in the three-game series, going 7-for-9 with five runs scored. She also stole three bases.
- Sydney Carter went 4-for-7 (.571) with a double, three RBI, and two runs scored in the three-game series.
- Paige Dorsett had four RBI in the three-game series, going 5-for-10 with a game-winning home run in game one.
- Kieli Ryan produced four RBI off four hits, including three doubles, in the three-game series.
- Mackenzie Griman tallied a 0.88 ERA, a complete-game win, and an additional save in the series. In the 2-1 victory in game one, she allowed one run on nine hits and one walk while striking out four. In game two, she retired all three batters she faced.
Up Next
Butler travels to Purdue-Fort Wayne for a midweek contest on Wednesday, Mar. 15. Next weekend, the Bulldogs host St. John's for a three-game BIG EAST series from Friday, Mar. 17 through Sunday, Mar. 19.
