Tournament Information – Velvet Milkman Classic (Murray State)
DATE:                                   Sunday, Feb. 23 – Monday, Feb. 24
LOCATION:                        Murray, Kentucky / Murray State
LIVE STATS:                      butlersports.com
LIVE VIDEO:                      N/A
 
The Butler softball team will play in the Velvet Milkman Classic at Murray State this weekend, but weather conditions have impacted the schedule and opponents. Lindenwood and Robert Morris are no longer participating in the tournament. The revised schedule is below:
 
Sunday, February 23
1PM ET | 12PM CT           Murray State vs. Butler
 
Monday, February 24
11AM ET | 10AM CT        Western Illinois vs. Butler
4PM ET | 3PM CT             Murray State vs. Butler
 
Bulldog Bits                                                                                        
            (through games 2/17/25)

• Cate Lehner's 15 hits lead the BIG EAST and rank 42nd nationally. Her 4 stolen bases also lead the conference.
• Makena Alexander leads the BIG EAST (14th nationally) with 1.71 RBI per game. She also ranks first (18th) with 4 home runs, and she ranks first (31st) with a 1.045 slugging percentage.
• Ella White leads the BIG EAST (93rd nationally) with a .571 on base percentage. She ranks third in the conference (51st) with 3 home runs, ranks third (60th) with a .895 slugging percentage, and ranks fifth (83rd) with 1.29 RBI per game.
• Katie Petran ranks second in the BIG EAST (85th nationally) with 7.8 strikeouts per 7.0 innings

            at Evansville

• Cate Lehner led Butler with five hits. She batted .500, produced 3RBI, scored twice herself, and was 3-for-3 stealing bases.
• Ella White's home run in game two was her third of the season and the 25th of her career. She is now tied for third on Butler's All-Time Career home run list.
• Rylyn Dyer collected two saves in Butler's two wins in a doubleheader at Evansville. In game one, she retired 6 of the 7 batters she faced, with the other reaching on an error. In game two, she entered in the sixth inning with one out and the bases loaded but forced the Aces into a double play. In the final inning, she retired 3 of the 4 batters she faced.
   
• Cate Lehner was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after her performances in the doubleheader with Evansville.
   

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
 
Murray State (3-3, 0-0 Missouri Valley)
Murray State has wins over Northwestern State and Western Michigan. Losses include South Alabama, UAB, and Western Michigan.

Hitting leaders: Ailey Schyck (.308) 2HR, 7RBI | Kenley Minor (.250) 5H, 2-2B, 3B, 3SB | Katy Huels (.250) 3B, HR
Pitching leaders: Raylee Roby (2-0) 9.2IP, 1.45 ERA, 1K | Karlye Graber (0-1) 6.2IP, 3.15 ERA, 3K | Bre Haislip (0-2) 11.0IP, 10K
 

Western Illinois (2-7, 0-0 Ohio Valley)
Western Illinois has wins over Detroit Mercy and Butler. Losses include Green Bay, DePaul, Hawaii, and Sacramento State.

Hitting leaders: Malia Robertson (.484) 15H, 4RBI, 6SB | Payton Brown (.355) 11H, 3HR, 7RBI | Kaylee Ketcherside (.348) 8H, 2-2B
Pitching leaders: Lillie Wools (0-1) 14.2IP, 4.77 ERA, 3K | Kaitlyn Green (2-2) 18.2 IP, 5.62 ERA, 8K | Kathryn McChristy (0-2) 12.2IP, 6.08 ERA, 4K