May 14, 2011

Box Score

CHICAGO - Jenny Esparza's solo home run in the bottom of the seventh would be the first and only hit that Butler would get off of opposing pitcher Devin Miller as the UIC softball team fell to the Bulldogs at the Horizon League Championships, forcing a deciding title contest between the two sides.

After a dramatic win on Friday afternoon, the Flames (24-22) and Bulldogs (32-23) met once again on a blustery Saturday afternoon with intermittent mists that eventually turned into rain.

Miller and Esparza continued their tremendous ways in the circle, as UIC's hurler would allow five walks with only one Bulldog reaching scoring position with nothing transpiring throughout.

UIC would start cracking down Esparza midway through as the Butler ace fanned nine and walked four before rains halted play at the end of the fifth inning.

After a nearly half hour delay, the Flames opened up the sixth as Melinda Macias reached on a walk, subsequently followed by a infield error allowing Carly DeMarco to bump Macias over to second. An intentional walk of Coryn Schmit would load the bases, but back-to-back strikeouts and a flyout would close out the inning with the bases filled.

Courtney Heeley would claim the Flames lone hit to lead off the seventh with a single past the reach of shortstop Kayla Gray, and was bumped to second with a successful sac bunt from Christie Seddon. But Macias, serving as UIC's final batter would fly out to left in the direction of the wind.

But Esparza, who provided ample offense in Butler's win over Valparaiso in an elimination game on Friday evening, broke Miller's no hitter with a solo home run over centerfield in the bottom of the seventh to push the championship to a winner take all contest.

With the conclusion of the game, rains and gusting winds have halted the beginning of the second contest that was scheduled to begin a half hour after the end of the first game.