April 30, 2011

Box Score

CHICAGO - Jenny Esparza threw a one-hitter and struck out 18 batters, and Erin Falkenberry hit a solo home run to lead visiting Butler (27-21, 13-7 Horizon) to a 1-0 victory over Loyola University Chicago (22-22, 12-6 Horizon) in game one of a doubleheader at Loyola Softball Park this afternoon. The loss was the Ramblers' fourth in a row and spoiled a great effort by freshman Brittany Gardner, who threw a two-hitter but took the loss.

Gardner and Esparza dominated the entire game, allowing only three hits, while recording 26 strikeouts, between them. Esparza was nearly untouchable and allowed only one hit, a two-out single up the middle by Jenna Grim, in the first inning.

Loyola had runners at first and second with one out in the bottom of the first, but Esparza struck out the next two hitters to stop the Rambler rally.

The game would stay scoreless until Gardner made her only mistake of the day, a pitch that Falkenberry hammered over the centerfield fence for a solo home run, with one out in the top of the seventh inning.

Gardner allowed only one other hit in the contest, a one-out single by Callie Dennison, with one out in the sixth. The lefthander, who didn't deserve the end result for her sterling performance, struck out eight Bulldogs and yielded only one walk.

But Gardner was outdone by Esparza, who struck out every Rambler that received at least one at-bat, with the lone exception of Stevie Bradich.