Seton Hall University
Butler
Walkden Sets HR Record, Pirates Sweep Butler
4/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - Freshman slugger Alexis Walkden (Cibolo, Texas) homered twice, setting a new Seton Hall softball single-season record in the process, as the Pirates picked up a critical doubleheader sweep and series victory at Butler University on Sunday afternoon. Seton Hall held off late Butler rallies in both games, taking the first contest 5-4, and game two 6-5.
With the pair of wins, Seton Hall improved to 8-9 in BIG EAST play with one series remaining, leapfrogging Butler and Villanova to move back into third place in the league standings with three games to play for all eight conference teams. The top four teams in the BIG EAST standings qualify for the 2015 BIG EAST Tournament.
Seton Hall 5, Butler 4
After spotting Butler a run on a Brandyce Sallee RBI double in the bottom of the first, Seton Hall rallied with five unanswered to assume control of the game.
Walkden's historic day really got going in the third inning, as senior Whitney Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) drew a two-out walk, swiped second, and then came home to score as Walkden sent an RBI double into right.
The Pirates' big inning actually came in the fourth, as catcher Faith Laudano (Islip, N.Y.) drove in three with a home run over the wall in center. With one out, sophomore Lauren Fischer (Robbinsville, N.J.) singled to center, then the Bulldogs attempt to get her at second on a Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.) grounder, but the result of the play was two on for Laudano, who cleared the bases with her fifth homer of the year.
Seton Hall's offensive surge wasn't finished, as in the top of the fifth, Walkden's record-setting 19th homer of the season cleared the fence in center field, making it 5-1 in the process.
Seton Hall's old single-season home run mark of 18 had stood since the 2002 season, when Laura Taylor set the Seton Hall all-time and freshman record, en route to a career 59 home runs, which is the most all-time at The hall, and 26 clear of second place, which belongs to senior Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) with 33.
That solo shot proved to be an important run, as Butler came back to score three runs over the final two innings.
After getting one back in the sixth, the Bulldogs opened the bottom of the seventh trailing 5-2, and Cassie Rupel led off with a pinch hit double to left. A bunt single and walk loaded the bases with no outs, and DeStaso, who had entered as a reliever in the sixth inning, was replaced by Fischer, who started the game.
Fischer managed to induce a pair of ground ball outs to extinguish the threat. Two Butler runs would score, but with runners on the corners and two outs, Alex Kotter hit a grounder that resulted in a double play and a Seton Hall win.
Fischer ultimately threw six innings and was credited with her ninth win of the season, giving up just a pair of earned runs with two strikeouts.
Walkden went 2-for-4, driving in two, and Laudano was 2-for-3 on the day.
Seton Hall 6, Butler 5
Once again Seton Hall needed to stave off a Butler rally in the bottom of the seventh to earn a win. After winning three non-conference games in walk off fashion earlier in the week, and losing 4-3 on Saturday afternoon, SHU played six one-run games this week, but went 5-1 in those contests and is now 10-6 in one-run games this season.
Up 6-2 and three outs away from a series win, Seton Hall yielded base hits to the first three Bulldogs to step to the plate in the seventh, the last of which was a three-run homer from Alyssa Lach to pull Butler within one.
Just like in game one, the Pirates brought the starter back in to close things out, only this time it was DeStaso entering for Fischer. With one out, she struck out Riley Carter, but saw the game prolonged by an error at second and Sarah Gronowski base hit to left. However, she managed to get Krosley Ogden swinging to end the game.
Seton Hall scored two runs in the second, fifth and seventh to take a 6-2 lead heading into the final half inning. The two runs in the second were courtesy of Laudano's second homer of the day, a two-run blast to center. Seton Hall's catcher has been hot since breaking out for two homers in the series finale at Creighton, and now has four home runs in BIG EAST play, where she is hitting .400 with a 1.000 slugging percentage.
In the fifth, Seton Hall loaded the bases for Walkden, who delivered with a two-RBI single to center, scoring Valerie Suto (Mercerville, N.J.) and Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.).
Two innings later, after Harrell led off with a bunt single, Walkden stepped to the plate to collect her 20th home run of the season, second of the day, and third of the series, padding the Seton Hall lead to 6-2, which once again proved critical after a late Butler rally.
Walkden drove in four in game two, going 2-for-4 at the plate. The Pirates actually only tallied six hits off Kristin Gutierrez, but were efficient enough to plate six runs.
DeStaso improved to 10-12, throwing 6.1 innings while giving up just one earned with five strikeouts.
Seton Hall is back in action for its final non-conference game of the year when it hosts Hofstra on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. The Pirates conclude BIG EAST play with a three-game series against the Georgetown Hoyas next Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3.
