Tournament Information – Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic
DATE:                                 Friday, Feb. 9 – Sunday, Feb. 11
LOCATION:                        Cedar Rapids, Iowa / UNI Dome
LIVE STATS:                      unipanthers.com
LIVE VIDEO:                      ESPN+ (select games)
 
Full Notes
 
The Butler softball team opens the 2024 season this weekend with five games over three days at the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Bulldogs will face Omaha, Western Illinois, Drake, Northern Illinois, and the host, Northern Iowa.
 
The Bulldogs finished the 2024 season with an 18-35 overall record, going 12-9 in BIG EAST play and qualifying as the fourth seed in their third-consecutive BIG EAST Tournament.
 
Bulldog Bits                                                                                        

• The 2023 Bulldogs rank in the top ten on several of Butler's all-time single-season lists:  1st- drawn walks (165), 2nd- home runs (38), T4th-conference wins (12), 6th- RBI (182), T8th- triples (9), and 9th- runs (197).
   
• BIG EAST coaches ranked Butler fifth in the 2024 Preseason Poll. Villanova (1st), UConn (2nd), and Seton Hall (3rd) each received at least two first-place votes. DePaul (4th) also ranked ahead of the Bulldogs.
   
• Butler's 2024 schedule includes four teams that qualified for the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs' season opener is vs. Omaha (Feb. 9) at UNI. Additional opponents include Seton Hall (Mar. 28-30), Miami (OH) (Apr. 9), and Indiana (Apr. 24), all at home.

COMPARING OPPONENTS (2023 seasons)
 
Butler (18-35, 12-9 BIG EAST) - season ended in BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinal
Head Coach: Scott Hall (14th)
Outscored by opponents, 197-295, in 2023. All five of top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 2.53 ERA along with 2 shutouts. Three of four pitchers return.
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Omaha (33-17, 15-5 Summit) - season ended in NCAA Tournament Regional
Head Coach: Mike Heard (3rd)
Outscored opponents, 215-130, in 2023. Three of top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 5.30 ERA along with 8 shutouts. Entire pitching staff returns.
 
Northern Iowa (39-12, 26-1 The Valley) - season ended in semifinals of MVC Tournament
Head Coach: Ryan Jacobs (17th)
Outscored opponents, 348-123, in 2023. Two of top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 2.03 ERA along with 14 shutouts. All three primary pitchers return.
 
Western Illinois (9-36, 3-15 Ohio Valley) - season ended after regular season
Head Coach: Alisa Goler (4th)
Outscored by opponents, 124-263, in 2023. Four of top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 4.79 ERA along with 2 shutouts. One of two primary pitchers returns.
 
Drake (18-34, 10-17 The Valley) - season ended in the quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament
Head Coach: Lindsay Diehl (1^st)
Outscored opponents, 182-262, in 2023. Four of top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 5.30 ERA along with 8 shutouts. Four of five primary pitchers return.
 
Northern Illinois (26-25, 15-13 MAC) - season ended after regular season
Head Coach: Christina Sutcliffe (12^th)
Outscored by opponents, 231-235, in 2023. Four of top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 5.78 ERA along with 6 shutouts. All four of primary pitchers return.