The Bulldogs return to action this weekend, traveling to Lynchburg, Va., for the Liberty Classic. Butler will play five games beginning Friday.

Butler enters the weekend with an 8-3 record.

The Liberty Classic schedule has been adjusted from its original version, largely due to cold temperatures expected in Virginia at times during the weekend.

On Friday, Butler will play Hofstra (11 a.m.) and Penn (1 p.m.). On Saturday, the Bulldogs will face off with Yale (11 a.m.) and East Carolina (1 p.m.). The weekend concludes Sunday with a 10 a.m. first pitch against Fairfield. Live stats will be available for all five games with links available on the softball schedule page of ButlerSports.com.

The Bulldogs enter well-rested after taking last weekend off. Butler hasn't played since Feb. 16 against Presbyterian, which concluded action at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Fla.

Sophomore Lauren Fey leads the Bulldogs at the plate with a .457 average, which is second in the BIG EAST. She has a team-best 16 hits and 11 runs. Her .548 on-base percentage leads the conference during the early portion of 2020. Classmate Bri Avery is batting .370 and has stolen five bases, also second in the BIG EAST.

Sophomore Karli Ricketts has four home runs through the Bulldogs' 11 games. She and freshman Loren Simpson are tied for the team-lead with 11 RBI. Simpson's 11 RBI have come in only 14 at-bats. She has four doubles and a home run.

Despite the Bulldogs' strong performances at the plate, the team's 8-3 record is largely due to pitching and defense. Butler's team ERA of 2.37 leads the BIG EAST.

Ricketts has a 3-2 mark to go along with a 2.10 ERA. She has 45 strikeouts in 33.1 innings of work. Her five starts include three complete games and a shutout. Junior Alyssa Graves is 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA. She also has a three complete games. Graves is also averaging better than a strikeout per inning with 32 in 27.1 innings.

In a limited 12.1 innings in the circle, freshman Mackenzie Griman leads the BIG EAST with a 1.14 ERA and .152 opposing batting average.

Butler's .984 fielding percentage also leads the Bulldogs. The team has committed only five errors through 11 games.