WILMINGTON, N.C. – Butler recorded a 12-1 win over Lehigh to open up the 2018 season. Garrett Christman went 4-for-4 from the plate with three RBI and two runs scored to lead the offense. Defensively, BU got five solid innings from Connor Mitchell and the bullpen would do the rest to secure the lop-sided victory.
 
Christman got the start at third base and would hit seventh in the order. His 4-for-4 performance was nearly matched by Harrison Freed who followed him in the eight-hole. Freed ended the game 3-for-4 with a team-high four RBI. Other Bulldogs to notch an RBI in the opener included lead-off man Zach Jarosz and BIG EAST Preseason Co-Player of the Year Tyler Houston.
 
Freshman James Gargano and Garrett Christman would score the first two runs of the season in the top of the second inning off a triple to center from Freed. BU added another run in the fourth with Michael Hartnagel scoring off a Christman double to right. Hartnagel's first run scored would give BU a 3-1 advantage.
 
BU would strike again in the sixth inning after a Lehigh pitching change. Christman came up with a timely hit through the right side that would score two and an RBI single from Freed would follow to put Butler up 6-1.
 
Freed delivered another RBI single in the eighth, this time to center field and Gargano would come around to score.
 
Any chance of a comeback would be wiped away in the top of the ninth with BU posting five runs on just one hit. Houston would highlight the frame with a double down the left field line. The five-run inning took the two teams to the final score of 12-1.
 
The bats were alive in the season opener, but the Bulldog arms were equally as impressive. Connor Mitchell tossed five full innings to get the win. He only allowed one run off five Lehigh hits. The bullpen was nearly perfect as Josh Walker, Brock Balderson and Landen Haney came in to finish off the Mountain Hawks.
 
Walker tossed the sixth and seventh for BU. He struck out two while only allowing one hit. Balderson took care of the eighth for the Bulldogs and Haney would get the team to the finish line by tossing the ninth.
 
Butler enjoyed sunny skies and 75 degree temperatures today in Wilmington, N.C. but the forecast for tomorrow isn't as promising. In order to avoid any type of weather delay the teams have decided to push the Lehigh game to 6 PM. Butler will still play at UNCW at 2 PM.