INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs put up 15 runs off 13 hits in the 2016 home opener on Wednesday afternoon to defeat Marian 15-4. Butler recorded five extra base hits, including two grand slams to blow the game wide open.

The Knights struck first and they struck hard scoring all four of their runs in the first two innings. John O'Malley and Matt Turk each recorded a triple early in the contest to give the visitors the 4-0 lead. Butler would erase that deficit however by scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the third inning.

The third got underway with back-to-back walks putting Cole Malloy and Chris Maranto on board with no outs. Tyler Houston would collect the first big hit of the afternoon for BU by finding room in left center that scored two runs. Houston's stand up double would be followed by yet another walk and the Bulldogs would climb right back into the game with Houston scoring off a throwing error.

Matt Burleton seemed to lose his control on the mound for Marian and therefore was replaced in the inning by Alex McCool. The pitching change didn't slow down the BU bats as Jordan Lucio drove in a run with his single. McCool continued to struggle and would eventually find himself on the rubber with the bases loaded and Chris Maranto at-bat. Maranto sent a shot over the fence in leftfield for the grand slam and the momentum had been shifted.

The 'Dawgs scored 10 runs in the bottom of the third off six hits, clearly highlighted by the Maranto homer. The Knights did make two errors in the inning, but they avoided further trouble as BU left three runners on base.

Cold temperatures kept the bullpens busy on Wednesday as each team pitched by committee. Neither team was able to get their offense going again until the fifth when Butler was able to increase their lead.

Connor Dall got the ball rolling in the fifth with a one-out double to left center. Chris Marras had reached on a walk and was able to advance to third off the hit. Garrett Christman would walk during his at-bat to load the bases and then Michael DiViesti delivered the second grand slam of the game with a rocket to left field. Those four runs moved the scoreboard to 14-4 and one final run would be added to the total in the seventh as Christman scored off a wild pitch.

Butler's offense was clicking in the home opener, but the pitching staff wouldn't be outdone. Butler recorded 11 strikeouts while only walking one batter. All six student-athletes that took the bump recorded at least one strikeout.

Quentin Miller got the start, but it would be Tyler Rathjen picking up the win, his first of the year. Bobby Napoleon and Josh Goldberg were nearly perfect in their inning of work and the door would be closed with an inning from Sam Hubbe followed by two frames by Brock Balderson.