The Bulldogs' infield will have a familiar look to it in 2020 as the team returns a majority of its key contributors from a season ago. That group is headlined by All-BIG EAST honorees Maddie Moore and Lauren Fey.

The pair are slated to be the double play combo on most of Coach Scott Hall's line-up cards this season.

Moore, the BIG EAST's second-team shortstop as voted by the conference's head coaches, hit .441 in BIG EAST play in 2019. That included three doubles and seven RBI in her 13 conference games. Moore did not commit an error against BIG EAST opponents. For the season, Moore's .337 batting average led the Bulldogs. She started 30 of the 33 games she appeared in while dealing with injuries at times throughout the season.
 
Fey, who earned second-team honors for her work primarily in the outfield, hit .333 in BIG EAST play, starting all 16 of the team's conference contests. She had six RBI. Fey's .308 overall average trailed only Moore on the Bulldogs' 2019 roster. Her 40 hits and seven stolen bases were second on the team, while her 16 runs scored were third. Fey will be at second base in 2020, a position she played at times as a freshman.

"It's great when your two all-conference players have taken the next step," said Hall. "They both have the potential to put up big numbers. For Maddie, we have to keep her healthy. Lauren is arguably our most improved player. She's coachable and humble, and she's worked a lot on her swing and on her consistency at the plate."

Madi Christiansen, one of the team's seniors, returns at first base. She has started 112 games over her first three seasons. Christiansen hit .255 as a junior a season ago.

"Madi put in more swings in the offseason than anyone on our team; that's what you would expect out of a senior leader."

Classmate Christina Candotti will be across the diamond from Christiansen. Hall references Candotti as the team's emotional leader, bringing intensity to every practice and game. Candotti hit .314 in 15 BIG EAST games a season ago. Overall, her .427 slugging percentage (driven by four home runs and seven doubles) tied for second on the team. Her slugging percentage leaped to .714 in conference play. She was extremely steady at third base, committing only one error on the season.

The Bulldogs will be without infielder Claire Gilliland in 2020. The junior had surgery in the fall and will miss the upcoming campaign after playing in 31 games a season ago.

Sophomores Emily Perrelle and Zoe Herdman will see time at the middle infield positions after playing in 27 and 13 games, respectively, as freshmen. Senior Ashley Post will get at-bats while playing at first base. Freshman Loren Simpson has the ability to play either corner infield position. Like Post, Simpson has some pop in her bat. She was a 2019 All-State selection after batting .620 with eight home runs and 11 triples.

Kinley Longest saw action in 22 games as a freshman, mainly as a pinch-runner. Karli Ricketts will focus on pitching in 2020 after finding her way into the line-up at first base on a number of occasions as a freshman. Ricketts' bat will be utilized as the designated player often when she is not already in the line-up as the team's pitcher.

The Bulldogs' infield provides continuity, and if the group mirrors the increased production predicted for All-BIG EAST performers Moore and Fey, Butler will be right back in the thick of the BIG EAST race.