DATE:                              Friday, Feb. 20 – Sunday, Feb. 22
LOCATION:                     Bowling Green, Ky. / WKU Softball Complex
LIVE STATS:                   butlersports.com (statbroadcast)
LIVE VIDEO:                   N/A
 
The Butler softball team heads south for the Hilltopper Classic this coming weekend where it will play five games vs. three opponents: Detroit Mercy, Western Kentucky, and Western Michigan. The Bulldogs are coming off a three-game series sweep at Tennessee State.
 
Bulldog Bits                                                            
 
        at Tennessee State

• Makena Alexander was named BIG EAST Player of the Week after batting .857 over three games, going 6-for-7 with a triple and a home run and producing six RBIs. She also drew six walks.
• Hailey Conger batted .667 with two doubles and six RBIs. She also stole four bases.
• Katie Petran was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after pitching a complete-game shutout for the Bulldogs in game two, winning 11-0. In 5.0 innings, she allowed only three hits, struck out six, and did not yield any walks.
   
• With a first-inning bunt single in the afternoon's first game, Cate Lehner produced the 200th hit in her Butler career. This broke Butler's program record, surpassing Amy Hyerczyk who had attained 199 from 2005-2008. Lehner finished the day at 202.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
 
Detroit Mercy (1-4, 0-0 Horizon League)
Series history: Butler leads, 41-30
The Titans have a win over Drake. Losses came to DePaul (2), Valparaiso, and Western Illinois.
Hitting leaders: #21 Fluker (.455) 5H, 2B, 3B, 3RBI | #23 Ketola (.333) 2H, 4SB | #10 Hallman (.250)
Pitching leaders: #13 Flynn (1-2) 13.0-IP, 4.85 ERA, 10K | #0 Schultz (0-1) 13.1-IP, 5.78 ERA, 14K | #27 Dietlin (0-1) 4.1 IP,
17.77 ERA, 1K
 
Western Kentucky (6-3, 0-0 CUSA)
Series history: WKU leads, 3-0
The Hilltoppers have wins over Eastern Illinois (2), Georgia Southern, and Army along with a loss to Iowa. WKU split games
with UNC Greensboro and Mercer.
Hitting leaders: #24 Blanton (.433) 13H, 4SB | #16 White (.360) 9H, 3HR, 7RBI | #22 Stinson (.355) 11H, 4-2B, 6RBI
Pitching leaders: #25 Wood (3-0) 18.2-IP, 1.87 ERA, 14K | #11 Houge (3-1) 23.2-IP, 2.96 ERA, 19K | #17 Smith (0-2) 12.2 IP,
3.32 ERA, 17K
 
Western Michigan (5-4, 0-0 MAC)
Series history: Tied, 1-1
Western Michigan has wins over Dayton, Morehead State, Presbyterian, and Le Moyne. Losses came to South Alabama (2)
and UAB. The Broncos split games with Jacksonville State
Hitting leaders: #9 Malartsik (.444) 8H, 3RBI, 3SB | #22 Duncan (.379) 11H, 3-2B, 3-3B, 3HR, 15 RBI | #2 Tighe (.321) 9H,
3-2B, 2-3B, 7RBI
Pitching leaders: #33 Geyer (1-1) 25.1-IP, 3.32 ERA, 23K | #24 Potts (3-2) 19.2-IP, 6.76 ERA, 20K