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Alex Rinearson Powers Butler Past Indiana Tech, 7-6
April 19, 2005 Freshman Alex Rinearson led off the ninth inning with a walk-off home run to lead host Butler to a 7-6 victory over Indiana Tech in a non-league game at Bulldog Park on Tuesday, April 19. The dramatic win lifted the Bulldogs to 12-21 on the season, while Indiana Tech slipped to 22-20. Rinearson foiled a comeback attempt by the Warriors when he slugged the first pitch from right-hander Courtney Stultz deep over the centerfield wall. It was the third hit of the afternoon for Rinearson and his fourth run batted in. It also was just his second collegiate home run! The decisive blow came after Indiana Tech had rallied to tie the game with two runs in the eighth inning and a leadoff home run by Adam Storms in the ninth. The blast by Storms cleared the leftfield wall and completed a comeback that saw the Warriors score five runs in the final four innings. Butler jumped to a 2-0 lead on a two-run single by Rinearson in the third inning. That hit broke up a scoreless duel between Butler's Jim Knytych and Indiana Tech's Marc Caban. Knytych retired the first nine batters he faced, the Warriors broke through with a run on one hit in the fourth inning. Rinearson drove in Butler's third run with a single in the fifth inning, but Indiana Tech tied the game with two runs in the top of the sixth frame. Butler climbed back in front with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jonathan Day, pinch-hitting for Matt Martino, keyed the rally with a two-run double to right-center field and later scored on a single by Joe Dempsey.
Junior Josh Rudolfi, pitching in his first game this season after recovering from a shoulder injury, replaced Knytych in the eighth inning, and he surrendered two runs before completing the frame. Junior lefthander Craig Costello pitched the ninth inning and picked up his third win in seven decisions this season. Rinearson and shortstop Stephen Gill sparked Butler's 14-hit attack with three hits apiece. Gill had two of Butler's five doubles in the contest. Senior Dale Mueller and sophomore Dustin Bucalo each added two hits. The Bulldogs will visit Valparaiso for a non-league test on Wednesday, April 20. That game is slated to start at 3 p.m. |
