BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Butler softball team defeated Cleveland State and was then shutout by Alabama-Birmingham on the final day of the UAB Green & Gold Classic. The Bulldogs (3-13) led from start to finish in a 6-1 over the Vikings (2-8), while the Blazers (10-6) recorded a perfect game as pitcher Olivia Valbak retired 21 straight batters.
 
Game 4: Butler- 6, Cleveland State- 1 (7 innings)
After loading the bases in the first inning, Butler made a statement when Paige Dorsett (2-3, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R) crushed a grand slam over the center field fence. The 4-0 lead held through two.
 
In the third, after Dorsett drew a walk, Monique Hoosen (3-3, HR, 2 RBI) hit the second dinger of the game, extending the Bulldogs' lead to 6-0.
 
Cleveland State used a sacrifice fly to get on the board in the top of the fourth, but Butler's defense ended the scoring there.
 
Along with Dorsett and Hoosen, Cate Lehner (2-4, SB) and Kaylee Gross (2-4) each had multiple hits in the game.
 
Rylyn Dyer (2-3) pitched a complete game for Butler and picked up her second win of the season. In 7.0 innings, she allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out three.
 
Game 5: Alabama-Birmingham- 2, Butler- 0 (7 innings)
UAB scored two in the first, on a home run, and the 2-0 lead was all that was necessary.
 
Blazers pitcher Olivia Valbak, a sophomore, delivered a perfect game in the contest, retiring 21 straight batters.
 
Mackenzie Griman (1-6) pitched a complete game for Butler and suffered the loss. In six innings of work, she allowed two earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two.
 
Bulldog Bits

• Paige Dorsett's grand slam vs. Cleveland State was her first home run of the season and the second of her career.
• Monique Hoosen's home run vs. Cleveland State was her fourth of the season and the 17^th of her career.
• Rylyn Dyer's winning effort in the circle vs. Cleveland State was her first complete game of the season.
• Cate Lehner's stolen base vs. Cleveland State was her third of the season.

Up Next
Butler heads to Carbondale, Ill., to play in the Saluki Invitational from Mar. 3 – Mar. 5. Opponents will be the host school, SIU, along with Loyola (Chicago) and Tennessee-Martin.