PIRATES USE LONG BALL TO SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER WITH BUTLER

[Halldan1]

Story Links

• GAME 1 BOX
• GAME 2 BOX

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Seton Hall softball team (22-21-1, 7-10 BIG EAST) blasted five home runs over the course of a doubleheader with Butler (19-27, 7-9 BIG EAST) in a split of the first two games of a BIG EAST conference set on Saturday. After a 9-3 setback in game one, The Hall bounced back for a 10-3 win in game two to set up a rubber game on Sunday at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field.

Five different Pirates left the yard over the course of the two contests as The Hall finished with a total of 19 hits in two games. In game two, all nine starters recorded at least one hits and The Hall blasted three home runs in a seven-run fourth inning to erase an early BU lead. Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas) delivered the big blow in game two with The Hall's first grand slam of 2017.

Game 1 Notes – Butler 9, Seton Hall 3

How It Happened

• The Bulldogs took an early lead with an RBI double in the top of the second
• The Hall answered in the bottom of the frame with a two-run shot from Chrisa Head (Lewisville, Texas) to pull ahead 2-1
• Butler used a two-run homer of its own to re-take the lead in the top of the third
• The Bulldogs would tack on two runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to build a 9-2 lead
• Lauren Fischer (Robbinsville, N.J.) got one back with a deep solo home run in the seventh

Notes and Numbers

• Butler held an 11-8 edge in hits and capitalized on three SHU errors with two unearned runs
• The Pirates left nine runners on base compared to five for the Bulldogs
• Noel Lent (Yaphank, N.Y.) finished 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored
• Head and Walkden both went 2-for-3 in the setback
• Fischer drew two walks to give her 40 this season, a new single-season program record

Game 2 Notes – Seton Hall 10, Butler 3

How It Happened

• Butler again jumped out to an early lead, scoring single runs in the first and third innings
• The Hall answered in a big way, smashing three home runs to score seven times in the fourth
• Lent and Hailey Arteaga (Upland, Calif.) got the inning started with back-to-back solo shots to level the contest at 2-2
• The Hall loaded the bases with one away, setting up Walkden's grand slam on a screaming line drive to right-center
• The Pirates would add another in the fourth when Fischer scored on a passed ball
• In the fifth SHU scored three more, with Walkden drawing a bases-loaded walk before a two-run single from Fischer
• Head came on in relief in the sixth for two scoreless innings of relief and close out the contest

Notes and Numbers

• The Hall held an 11-4 edge in hits and scored 10 times despite leaving 10 runners on base
• Madsion Strunk (Adkins, Texas) got the win in the circle, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing three runs (one earned) with three strikeouts and two walks
• Walkden finished 1-for-2 with two walks and five RBIs
• Over 17 BIG EAST games, Walkden is hitting .408 with six home runs and 19 RBIs
• Of Walkden's 40 career home runs, Saturday marked her first grand slam
• The grand slam was the first for any Pirate since Faith Laudano vs. Bowling Green on 3/6/15
• Arteaga's home run was her sixth of the year, third on the Pirates, and she ranks second on the team with 30 RBIs during her freshman season
• Ragen Reddick (Middlesex, N.J.) and Valerie Suto (Mercerville, N.J.) both had two hits
• The Pirates drew nine walks, while SHU pitching issued only three

What's Next
The Pirates and Bulldogs conclude their three-game series with a rubber match on Sunday at 12 p.m. The contest will be streamed live and FREE on the Pirate Sports Network.

http://www.shupirates.com/news/2017...-long-ball-to-split-doubleheader-with-bu.aspx