INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler softball team started BIG EAST competition with a winning streak, taking a pair of games from visiting Providence, as both teams began conference action in games delayed from this past weekend. The Friars (6-9, 0-2 BIG EAST) were in control of game one in the early innings, but the Bulldogs (12-10, 2-0 BIG EAST) used strong fifth and sixth innings to come from behind and secure the win. In game two, Butler scored in the second, third, and fourth innings and never trailed.
Game 1: Butler 6, Providence 5 (7 innings)
Providence scored three runs in the second inning and two more in the fourth to build a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, with the bases loaded,
Ella White hit a two-RBI single to get Butler on the board. Later in the inning,
Cate Lehner advanced home from third on a passed ball, cutting the lead to two runs.
In the sixth, a two-out rally would produce three more. With runners on second and third, Lehner singled, sending
Olivia Moxley across. Then, White, with her second two-RBI single of the game, sent
Hailey Conger and Lehner home, giving the Dawgs a 6-5 lead.
The Friars did not threaten in the seventh.
Katie Petran started in the circle for Butler and pitched the first two innings.
Sydney Cammon (5-6) entered in the top of the third, trailing 3-0, but ultimately earned the win. In 4.0 innings, she allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three. Petran (3.0 IP, 3R, 3H, BB, K) re-entered in the top of the seventh, with the Dawgs up, 6-5, and notched the save.
Game 2: Butler 5, Providence 1 (7 innings)
In the second inning, Butler jumped into an early lead when
Sydney Carter hit an RBI double to left field. In the third, another double, this time from
Teagan O'Rilley, push two more Bulldogs across.
In the fourth,
Monique Hoosen got things started with lead-off home run. After the Dawgs loaded the bases,
Ella White then hit a line drive to left field that allowed
Olivia Moxley to score. Butler held a 5-0 lead after four complete.
In the fifth, Providence got on the board, scoring from third on a wild pitch. In the final two innings, the Friars managed only one base runner, on a seventh inning single, and were unable to score.
Katie Petran (7-0) pitched a complete game for the Dawgs to earn the victory. In 7.0 innings, she held the Friars to one unearned run on six hits with two strikeouts.
Bulldog Bits
- Monique Hoosen's home run was her sixth of the season and the 33rd of her career.
- Sydney Carter's double was her second of the season and ninth of her career.
- Teagan O'Rilley's double was her sixth of the season and 13th of her career.
- Sydney Cammon's victory in game one was her fifth win of the season and her ninth at Butler.
- Katie Petran earned her seventh win in her seventh complete game of the season in game two. She also picked up her second save of the season in game one.
Up Next
Butler will remain in Indianapolis for game three of the BIG EAST series with Providence tomorrow, Tuesday, Mar. 12, at 12 pm. On Wednesday, the Bulldogs will travel to Bellarmine for games against the Knights as well as Dartmouth.
