Box Score

Freshman Alyssa Graves struck out 12 as Butler posted a 3-0 win over host Belmont Friday afternoon to open the Bruin Classic in Nashville, Tenn.

Graves, now 2-3 on the season, scattered seven hits by the Bruins in posting the second shutout of her young career.

Butler maximized its five hits. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the first inning and a single run in the top of the seventh.

Maddie Moore's RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Kaitlin Doud accounted for the two first-inning runs.

Moore had two hits for the Bulldogs. Alyssa Lach scored two of the team's three runs. The Bulldogs drew seven walks on the afternoon, including one by Cheyenne Thompson with the bases loaded to push across the run in the seventh.

The Bulldogs have four games remaining over the next two days in Nashville. Saturday's game include a 10 a.m. first pitch against Northern Iowa before a 4:45 p.m. start against North Carolina A&T. Live stats are available for all games in the tournament and links can be found on ButlerSports.com.