CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Butler softball team took a two-run lead in extra innings against Northern Illinois at the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic, but the Huskies (2-2) rallied with three runs in the bottom of the eighth and walked off with the victory. The Bulldogs (1-4), who led 3-0 after four innings, gave up three runs in the fifth, and the 3-3 tie held through the end of seven.
Game 5: Northern Illinois- 6, Butler- 5 (8 innings)
After three scoreless innings, Butler broke the deadlock in the top of the fourth.
Ella White led off with a single, and then
Teagan O'Rilley launched a two-run bomb over the right field curtain. One batter later,
Paige Dorsett made it back-to-back round-trippers with a home run to left field. The Dawgs had a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, NIU rallied with three runs to tie the game, 3-3.
In the sixth, Butler advanced runners to first and third with no outs but could not get anyone across. In the seventh, a Bulldog runner made it to third, but she was also stranded.
In the top of the eighth, the Bulldogs scored two on a Dorsett sacrifice bunt and a
Kieli Ryan single, taking a 5-3 lead. In the bottom half, two NIU doubles and a Bulldog error contributed to three runs that gave the Huskies the 6-5 victory.
Katie Petran (5.1IP, 3R, 6H, BB, 3K) started in the circle for Butler, carried a no-hitter through four innings, but gave up three runs in the fifth. With one out in the sixth,
Sydney Cammon (0-3) entered in relief. She took the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings.
Bulldog Bits
- Teagan O'Rilley's home run was her first of the season and ninth of her career.
- Paige Dorsett's home run was her first of the season and tenth of her career.
- O'Rilley led Butler with six RBI over the weekend.
- Makenna Alexander, Hailey Conger, and Erin Clark each connected on their first collegiate base hits over the weekend.
Up Next
Butler will head to Atlanta, Georgia, for the Panther Invitational at Georgia State from February 16-18. The Bulldogs will face Belmont, South Dakota, and Georgia State over five total games.
