Butler opened the 2018 season Friday in Longwood, Fla., at the Friends of Jaclyn Invitational at Soldier Creek Park.

The Bulldogs dropped a pair of games Friday, losing 5-2 to Louisville before being on the wrong side of a 5-1 decision to host Central Florida later in the day.

In the opener, Butler put two runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Jenna Foreman led off the season with a bunt single before the Bulldogs would load the bases on singles by Sarah Dixon and Madi Christiansen. Foreman would score on a Louisville error and Dixon would score when Alyssa Lach was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Cardinals were able to get out of the bases loaded, one-out jam after allowing only two runs.

Louisville would push across two unearned runs in the bottom of the second off a pair of Butler errors. Another Butler error in the third inning resulted in the Cardinals taking a 3-2 lead. Single runs in the fifth and sixth would determine the final score.

Alyssa Graves took the loss for Butler in her collegiate debut. The left-hander allowed only four hits and two walks in her five innings of work, while striking out seven. Only one of the four runs she surrendered was earned.

Foreman went 3-for-4 at the plate.

Megan Hensley picked up the win for Louisville, striking out seven in her complete game. Both of Butler's runs were also unearned. Both teams finished with five hits.

In the second game, UCF put up four runs in the top of the first inning. The Knights added a single run in the third inning.

Butler had 11 hits in the game, one more than UCF.

The Bulldogs' run came in the fourth inning as Christina Candotti, Claire Gilliland and Payton Longest strung together three consecutive two-out singles.

Candotti went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Longest had two hits in two plate appearances. Lach also had two hits.

Kaitlin Doud got the start for Butler and allowed all of UCF's runs in her four innings of work. Gabbi Schnaiter came on in relief and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing a single hit.

Alea White pitched a complete game for the Knights, scattering 11 hits while striking out five.

The Bulldogs continue play in Florida Saturday with a pair of games. Butler will play North Carolina at 11 a.m., followed by a 1:30 p.m. game with North Florida.