CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Butler dropped both ends of Saturday's doubleheader against Murray State, falling 6-4 in the opener and 3-2 in the nightcap. The pair of losses move Butler to 2-6 on the young season.  

  
BULLDOG HIGHLIGHTS: GAME ONE 

• Danny Gavin was 1-for-4 at the dish with a two-RBI triple and a walk.  

• Gavin Gilmore hit his second homer of the season.  

• Logan Baker went 2-for-5 in the game.  

• Connor Sackett picked up a hit as a pinch hitter.  

• David Ayers tallied a hit and a run scored.  

• Logan Crock recorded a hit and a run scored.  

HOW IT HAPPENED: GAME ONE 

• The first frame was scoreless for both sides. In the second, the Dawgs were able to put a runner on third with two outs but couldn't advance him home. The Racers struck first in the second, scoring one run off two hits.  

• The third was scoreless for both sides. Butler was able to get on the board in the top of the fourth as Gilmore hit a leadoff solo homer, tying the score at 1-1. Murray State responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, giving the Racers a 5-1 advantage heading into the fifth.  

• The Bulldog offense came to life in the fifth behind an RBI triple from Gavin as the Dawgs cut the deficit to two. The Racers added another in the bottom half of the inning as the home side took a 6-3 advantage into the sixth.  

• The sixth and seventh were scoreless for both sides. The eighth was more of the same as neither side was able to generate much offense. BU trailed 6-3 heading into the top of the ninth.  

• Butler was able to add a run in the top of the ninth but couldn't quite complete the comeback as the Racers secured the 6-4 victory in game one of the doubleheader.  

OF NOTE: GAME ONE 

• Butler tallied seven hits.  

• BU's pitching staff combined for five strikeouts.  

BULLDOG HIGHLIGHTS: GAME TWO 

• Max Winders tossed a quality start on the mound, giving up three earned runs over 6.1 innings. The sophomore threw a career-high 81 pitches.  

• In relief of Winders, Jack Hagen allowed zero runs over 1.2 innings pitched. This marks his second-straight shutout relief appearance.  

• Chris Lewis went 2-for-4 at the plate with two singles and a run scored.  

• Will Burgess tallied a single and a run scored. 

• Logan Baker singled, walked, and stole a base.  

• Danny Gavin and David Ayers each notched an RBI single.  

HOW IT HAPPENED: GAME TWO 

• Neither team was able to generate any offense in the first two innings, as the first 12 batters of the game were retired in order.  

• The first two baserunners came in the top of the third, with the Bulldogs drawing two walks. Neither baserunner was able to score, and after another quiet bottom half for the Racers, the game remained scoreless through three.  

• After a scoreless top of the fourth, Murray State threatened in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back singles. Crock threw the lead runner out at home to keep the game scoreless.  

• The fifth and sixth innings were much of the same, with neither team scoring any runs despite generating a few baserunners.  

• The Bulldog bats came to life in the seventh inning. Lewis and Burgess started the frame with back-to-back singles, which were shortly followed by RBI singles from Ayers and Gavin to plate the first two runs of the game. Murray State responded with three runs of their own to take a one-run lead into the eighth inning.  

• In the eighth, another single from Lewis put the tying run on base, but the Dawgs weren't able to drive him home. Butler proceeded to go down in order in the top of the ninth, giving Murray State the 3-2 victory.  

OF NOTE: GAME TWO 

• Through eight games, Winders leads the team in ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched.  

• The Butler pitching staff did not issue a walk.  

UP NEXT 

Butler will be back in action next weekend as the Dawgs travel to Huntington, W. Va., to take on Marshall in a three-game series. Game one is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27, with first pitch slated for 3 p.m. More information will be made available on butlersports.com.