CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Butler softball team opened the 2026 season with a pair of losses, falling to Omaha and Kansas City in the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic hosted by Northern Iowa. Freshman Kayla Preiss led the Bulldogs on offense for the day, going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs to kick off her Butler career.
 
Game 1: Omaha 13, Butler 3 (5 innings)
 
Omaha used a single and a home run to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning. One inning later, the Mavericks used four hits, including a home run, to plate an additional seven and take a 9-0 lead.
 
In the third inning, a single up the middle by Hailey Conger sent Olivia Roberts and Cate Lehner across the plate and trimmed Butler's deficit to 9-2. In the bottom half of the inning, Omaha brought the lead back to seven with a two-RBI single.
 
Preiss added one more for the Bulldogs in the top of the fourth, cracking a solo home run. The Mavericks answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half to make the score 13-3.
 
In the top of the fifth, Butler was unable to score and unable to extend the game.
 
Katie Petran (0-1) started in the circle for Butler and took the loss. In 2.0 innings, she gave up six hits and two walks, allowing nine total runs with only two being earned. Petran struck out three batters. Kate Murray (2.0IP, 4R, 4H, 3BB, 3K) provided relief in the third and finished the game.
 
Game 2: Kansas City 7, Butler 2 (7 innings)
 
After two scoreless innings, Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the third off a single and a triple.
 
In the fourth, Preiss and Kendall Graves each produced an RBI as Butler jumped in front, 2-1.
 
One inning later, the Roos loaded the bases but could not score. Then, in the sixth, KC scored two runs on four hits and forced a pitching change. The Dawgs again trailed by a run, 3-2.
 
In the final inning, Kansas City added four runs on three hits, increasing its lead to 7-2.
 
Rylyn Dyer (5.0IP, 2R, 5H, 2BB, 2K) got the start for Butler and lasted into the sixth. She was relieved by Maren Berger, who entered with one on and no outs in the top of the sixth. Berger (0-1) finished the game and took the loss. In 2.0 innings, she allowed five runs on six hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Bulldog Bits

• Freshman Kayla Preiss hit her career-first home run vs. Omaha. She had a pair of RBIs on the day.
• Junior Olivia Roberts' double vs. Omaha was the second of her career.
• Freshman Kate Murray made her first career appearance in the circle vs. Omaha.
• Freshman Kendall Graves produced her first-career RBI vs. Kansas City.

Up Next
Butler remains in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for its next two games at the UNI-Dome Classic on Saturday, Feb. 7. The Bulldogs will play Kansas City at 3 pm ET (2 pm CT) and Northern Iowa at 8 pm ET (7 pm CT).