INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler softball team's bats were on fire in the opening game of BIG EAST competition as the Bulldogs routed DePaul 21-2 in five innings. The Bulldogs (12-5, 1-0 BIG EAST) and Blue Demons (10-9, 0-1 BIG EAST) were scoreless after one inning, but Butler's offense put nine runs on the board and the second inning and added 12 in the third to put the game away.
Game 1: Butler 21, DePaul 2 (5 innings)
Key offensive performances for the Bulldogs came from
Makena Alexander (3-for-4, 2R, HR, 2B, 5RBI),
Ella White (3-for-4, 3R, 3RBI),
Cate Lehner (3-for 4, 3R, 3SB),
Paige Dorsett (2-for-2, 2-2B, 2RBI), and
Olivia Moxley (3-for-3, 2R, 2RBI).
Leigh Vande Hei added a three-run double and
Erin Clark had a two-run double.
Gwen Baker (5-2) pitched a complete game for the Bulldogs and picked up her fifth win of the season. In 5.0 innings she allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with one strikeout.
Bulldog Bits
- Makena Alexander's home run was her fifth of the season and eighth in her career.
- Four Bulldogs, Paige Dorsett (2), Erin Clark, Makena Alexander, and Leigh Vande Hei combined for five total doubles in the game.
- Butler's total of 21 runs is an all-time high in BIG EAST competition. The Bulldogs previously defeated DePaul, 13-5 (3/12/23), and Georgetown, 13-9 (4/15/18).
- The 21 runs is the most any Butler softball team has scored against a Division 1 opponent. The previous high was a 15-8 win over Middle Tennessee (2/23/24).
Up Next
Butler and DePaul will remain in Indianapolis to play game two of the three-game series tomorrow, Saturday, March 8. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
