Game #1 Box Score I Game #2 Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI softball team struggled to get key hits in clutch situations on Tuesday night as crosstown rival Butler swept a doubleheader at the on-campus softball complex, 5-2 and 7-1. Junior Amy Raker paced the IUPUI offense with three hits in the two games. 

In game one, Butler (19-4) jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the IUPUI (4-16) bats heated up in the the bottom of the third. Freshman Kelsey Rupert started the rally with a single and moved to second on Joy Perry's sacrifice bunt. Senior Mia Ettl followed with a double inside the right field foul line, easily plating Rupert from second. Sophomore Leah Prewitt then screamed a double to left, scoring Ettl to tie the score at 2-2.

The Bulldogs recaptured the momentum in the top of the fourth though as Lauren McNulty drilled a solo homerun off Samantha Bumbaugh, making it 3-2. Later in the fourth, BU plated another run when Bumbaugh plunked a batter with the bases loaded to force home Jen Arriaga, who had reached on a flare down the right field line. 

The Jaguars loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth without a hit as Raker and Alicia Hayes drew back-to-back walks and Breanna Shannon reached on an error. However, BU starter Jenny Esparza got out of the jam, striking out the final two batters to keep IUPUI off the scoreboard. 

For the game, IUPUI worked Esparza for four walks but stranded eight base runners. Esparza struck out seven in five innings to get the win and Breanna Fisher worked two scoreless innings to earn the save. Bumbaugh (0-4) struck out four in four innings but was saddled with the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) before departing. Freshman Nicole Natter was brilliant out of the bullpen, retiring nine batters in succession to end the game. 

Mallory Winters went 2-for-4 with two RBI for Butler in the win. 

In the nightcap, Butler scored four times in the top of the first and never looked back in an easy 7-1 win. The Bulldogs banged out 15 hits, including three homers, against three IUPUI pitchers in the victory. 

With a 4-0 lead, Butler got towering homeruns from Bridget Paine and Winters to make it 7-0 in the top of the fourth inning. IUPUI finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning as Alicia Garrison worked a walk and was followed by consecutive singles from Raker and Laura Wilcox. Junior Chelsie Hale then hit a bases loaded bouncer to third, forcing the lead runner at the plate. But Winter, Butler's catcher, threw wildly to first trying to complete a double play, allowing pinch runner Keshia Head to score from second base. 

Raker was 2-for-2 with a double and Wilcox reached twice in three at-bats with a single and walk. Butler's first four hitters combined on eight hits and six runs scored and included three RBI from Paine in the No. 3 spot. 

Fisher tossed a complete game for the Bulldogs while Raker (3-2) was hung with the loss for the Jags. 

IUPUI returns to action on Wednesday when it takes on Eastern Illinois in a doubleheader in Charleston, Ill. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m..