WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Butler baseball team put the finishing touches on a perfect 4-0 opening weekend by recording a 6-5 come from behind win over Eastern Kentucky on Sunday morning. The 'Dawgs faced a 5-0 deficit after three innings, but three runs in the sixth followed by three more in the eighth would lift Butler to victory.
 
Butler got on the scoreboard in the sixth after a sacrifice fly from Garrett Christman. Gehrig Parker led-off the inning with a single back up the middle of the diamond and he would come around to score the first run of the game for BU.
 
The biggest hit of the sixth came off the bat of Harrison Freed. The sophomore hit a two-RBI double to the gap in left center to score Michael Hartnagel and James Gargano.
 
The Butler bullpen kept Eastern Kentucky in check and a little bottom of the eighth inning magic would appear for the Bulldogs after back-to-back singles from Connor Dall and Gargano.
 
Eastern Kentucky made a pitching change after the first two batters of the frame and would go with Brian on the bump. Christman would lay down a sac bunt with two on and no out. Dall was tagged out at third, but Gargano would round second base and eventually score after a throwing error by the third baseman.
 
Another pitching change would take place after the sac bunt as Qullens took the mound for Brian. Freed would follow in the order and reach on a fielder's choice. Eastern Kentucky would get an important out at home however with Christman getting caught in a run down.
 
Even with the out, BU had one on in the eighth and had cut the deficit to just one run. That would change quickly with Zack Parker at the dish. The newcomer tripled to right field to tie the game as Freed made it around the base paths to score. The game-winner would follow with Zach Jarosz hitting a single to center that allowed Parker to come in.
 
Jack Pilcher would take over for John MacCauley in the ninth and blank Eastern Kentucky to pick up the save. The start went to Sam Hubbe who tossed 4.2 innings today. Quentin Miller came in for the final out and Head Coach Dave Schrage would give his bullpen a chance to shine in crunch time. Joe Graziano threw the sixth, Josh Walker had the seventh and MacCauley took care of business in the eighth to earn the win.
 
The pen only allowed two hits and struck out four. All five Eastern Kentucky runs came in the top of the third inning.
 
Butler will return to action next weekend with a four-game series in Lexington, S.C. vs. George Mason. The first game is scheduled for Feb. 23 at 2 PM.