Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 23, 2013)-Morgan State dropped an 8-3 decision to Butler in a non-conference game on Saturday morning on the opening day of the Tennessee State Tiger Invitational. Morgan State fell to 0-7 on the season with the loss, while Butler picked up its first win of the season and improved to 1-6.
The Bulldogs struck first with two runs in the bottom of first inning when Maria Leichty's two run triple to right field drove in Alex Kotter and Meaghan Sullivan for a 2-0 lead.
Morgan State quickly got back in the game by scoring two runs in the top of the second to even the score at 2-2.
Danielle Lugo led the comeback with a lead-off walk. Three batters later
Kimberly Fontaine walked,
Nicole Holguin advanced to third on a wild pitch and Lugo scored. Two batters later a wild pitch would allow Holguin to tie the game.
The Bulldogs would reclaim the lead in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI single through the left side from Riley Carter to score Audrey East for the 3-2 advantage.
Butler extended its cushion to 6-2 with three more runs in the fourth. Sullivan singled to left center to drive in two runs and Leichty drove in a run with a single through the left side for the sixth run.
The Lady Bears would score their third and final run of the game in the sixth when
Taylor McDougall singled through the left side to score
Tiffany Rubin to cut the deficit to 6-3.
Butler rounded out the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the sixth when Carrie Tveita singled to right center, scoring Krista Hakola and Sarah Gronowski for the 8-3 victory.
Jenny Esparza earned the win for Butler to improve to 1-1 on the season. Esparza surrendered two runs on no hits, had four walks and recorded three strikeouts in four innings of work.
Holguin (0-3) was charged with the loss for Morgan State. Holguin gave up six runs on 11 hits and had a strikeout in 3.1 innings.
