Softball Heads to Butler for Critical BIG EAST Series
4/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Seton Hall University softball team is entering the home stretch of the conference season. With just two series remaining for each of the eight BIG EAST teams, the postseason picture is beginning to come into focus, and this weekend the Pirates head to Indianapolis, Ind., for a critical three-game series against the Butler Bulldogs.
Butler is surging, winners of seven of its last eight games, the Bulldogs jumped up to fourth in the league standings thanks to their series sweep over Georgetown last weekend. Seton Hall, which lost three to St. John's a week ago, currently trails Butler by half a game with six to play. The top four teams will qualify for the 2015 BIG EAST Tournament, with conference winning percentage determining which teams will occupy those four spots.
So far, first place St. John's is the only team safely in the field, with much still to be determined.
Seton Hall used its midweek matchups to gather a little bit of momentum heading into this weekend's series, after suffering three disappointing losses to the Red Storm. The Pirates did so in dramatic fashion, walking off three times in three days, including twice in a doubleheader sweep against Drexel on Tuesday.
Senior Whitney Jones and freshman Alexis Walkden both recorded game-winning hits during that stretch, and Jones has seen her bat heat up over the last week, hitting .400 with four RBI in the last six games.
Against Drexel, Walkden homered for the 17th time this season, pulling her within one of tying Laura Taylor's SHU single-season record of 18, set back in 2002. Butler ranks in the middle of the BIG EAST with a 4.12 team earned run average, which means the Pirates should see offensive opportunities, but the Bulldogs are a unique opponent on the offensive end, as they get a lot of base runners on and make the most of those opportunities.
Despite ranking third in the league with a .287 average, Butler is first with 346 hits and 122 walks. The Bulldogs have also stolen a conference-leading 48 bases, led by Sarah Gronowski's 24.
After beating Georgetown three times, Butler swept the BIG EAST major weekly awards. Alyssa Lach hit .692 in six wins last week, while Kristin Gutierrez went 3-0 with a 0.44 earned run average in 16 innings on the mound.
Seton Hall will also have to be concerned with Alex Kotter, who ranks fourth in the BIG EAST with a .426 average and boasts a .514 on-base percentage.
LAST TIME OUT
Seton Hall faced first place St. John's last weekend at home and lost three games to fall into fifth place in the BIG EAST standings. The Pirates were able to recreate some momentum with three dramatic midweek victories, which included a doubleheader sweep over Drexel on Tuesday and a win over Stony Brook on Thursday. All three wins came in walk off fashion, with Whitney Jones and Alexis Walkden each driving in a winning score in the final inning. SHU is 6-5 over its last 11 games.
SCOUTING BUTLER
Quite simply, Butler has been on a tear over the last two weeks, going 7-1 over its last eight games to jump all the way up to fourth in the BIG EAST. The Bulldogs rank third in the league with a .287 team batting average and are fourth with a 4.12 earned run average. Butler puts a lot of runners on, leading the BIG EAST in hits (346) and walks (122), and are dangerous around the base paths, ranking first in steals with 48.
FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC
Seton Hall proved to come through in clutch moments in three walk off wins during its non-conference matchups this week. The Pirates picked up three-straight wins during their last at-bat to sweep a doubleheader from Drexel and top Stony Brook. Walking off is something the Pirates have now done six times this year, and as a result they are 8-5 in one-run games.
ENTERING THE HOME STRETCH
With two BIG EAST series remaining for all eight conference teams, the conference tournament picture is beginning to come into focus, but much is yet to be decided. St. John's is currently the only conference team to have clinched a spot in the postseason, posting a perfect 12-0 mark thus far. Seton Hall currently trails this weekend's opponent, Butler, by a half game for the fourth and final playoff spot. The top four teams qualify for the single-elimination BIG EAST Tournament, and the positioning is based on winning percentage in league games.
ONE SWING FROM HISTORY
Freshman Alexis Walkden hit her 17th homer of the season in a sweep of Drexel on April 21, brining her one homer away from tying the SHU single-season record of 18, set by Laura Taylor back in 2002. Walkden leads the BIG EAST in overall home runs, and six of those shots have come during conference play, which ties for second in the league with teammate Sara Haefeli. Walkden currently ranks 22nd in the country in home runs.
FIRST TO SCORE KEY FOR THE HALL
Getting off to a strong start has been key to Seton Hall seeing success on the field so far this season. The Pirates have scored 46 runs in the first inning, more than they did during all of last year, and they are 13-8 when scoring first in a game. The winning percentage is even great (12-4, .750) when the Pirates can bring a run home in the first inning. Comparatively, the Pirates are just 7-16 when their opponent scores first.
