NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Butler softball team came from behind, twice, to defeat Tennessee State in the first game of a weekend series. The Tigers (0-1) led, 6-3, after two innings and again led, 11-9, after six, but the Bulldogs (2-4) rallied in the fourth and seventh innings to erase the deficits and win by the final score of 13-11. Senior left fielder
Hailey Conger went four-for-four at the plate with two doubles, four RBIs, and four runs scored.
In the first inning,
Cate Lehner (4-5, 3R) singled and was knocked in by a Conger double. Three batters later,
Olivia Robards (2-4, R, RBI) singled in Conger, and Butler took an early, 2-0, lead.
In the bottom half of the first, TSU used three singles and a pair of walks to take its first lead, 3-2. After the Bulldogs got one back, the Tigers added three more in their half of the second, forcing a Butler pitching change and building the TSU lead to 6-3.
In the third inning, Conger scored on a
Kayla Preiss sacrifice fly, and the Bulldogs' deficit was down to two. One inning later, a pair of doubles, along with a
Makena Alexander (2-3, 3RBI, R, 2BB) home run, keyed a five-run rally that put the Dawgs back in front, 8-6. Butler tacked on one more in the top of the fifth, on a single combined with an error.
The Tigers scored five runs on five hits in the fifth and sixth innings. Their lead was 11-9 going into the seventh.
With its back against the wall, Butler rallied again. With two outs and a runner on first, the Dawgs rattled off four-straight singles. The first two loaded the bases. Conger then singled home a pair of runs, and, following that, Alexander singled home two more. The lead was 13-11.
TSU put one runner on base in its final frame but could not produce any runs.
Rylyn Dyer (1.1IP, 6R, 6H, 2BB) started in the circle for the Bulldogs. She was relieved by
Kate Murray in the second inning with two runners on, one out, and the Tigers leading 5-3. Murray (2-0) finished the game and picked up the win. In 5.2 innings, she allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts.
Bulldog Bits
- Alexander's home run was her third this season and the 15th of her career.
- With a pair of doubles, Conger now has three this season and 16 in her career.
- Kieli Ryan's fourth-inning double was her second this season and the 15th of her career.
- Murray picked up the second win in the circle for her career.
Up Next
Butler remains in Nashville as the series with Tennessee State continues. Two games are scheduled for Saturday with the first beginning at 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. CT).
