DATE:                              Friday, March 6 – Sunday, March 8
LOCATION:                    Clarksville, Tenn. / Austin Peay & Lipscomb
LIVE STATS:                   butlersports.com (statbroadcast)
LIVE VIDEO:                   ESPN+
 
The Butler softball team will participate in the Cathi Maynard Invitational this weekend near Nashville, Tenn. The Bulldogs (5-7) are scheduled to play five games vs. three opponents: Western Michigan, Austin Peay, and Lipscomb. The Dawgs have recently suffered a few game cancellations, having last played in the Hilltopper Classic at Western Kentucky, Feb. 20-21.
 
Bulldog Bits                                                            
          at the Hilltopper Classic

• With six RBIs vs. Detroit Mercy, senior Hailey Conger tied the Butler record for single-game RBIs, and she now joins two other Bulldogs who have done the same. Monique Hoosen accomplished the feat in 2024, and Erin Falkenberry reached the milestone four times in 2009.
• Freshman Kendall Graves hit the first two home runs of her career, producing five total RBIs.
• Sophomore Maren Berger produced a 0.95 ERA in the circle, yielding only one earned run in 7.1 innings of work over two appearances.
• Conger, Graves, and Berger were each named to the Feb. 23 BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after their performances at the Hilltopper Classic.
   
• Western Michigan defeated Butler, 12-2 (6 in.), earlier this season at the Hilltopper Classic.
   

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
 
Western Michigan (7-6, 0-0 MAC)
Series record: WMU leads, 2-1
Western Michigan has wins over Butler, Detroit Mercy, Dayton, Morehead State, Presbyterian, and Le Moyne. Losses came to South Alabama (2), Western Kentucky (2) and UAB. The Broncos split games with Jacksonville State.
Hitting leaders: #9 Malartsik (.516) 16H, 8RBI, 3SB | #22 Duncan (.333) 14H, 3-2B, 3-3B, 3HR, 16 RBI | #27 Herman (.294) 10H, 3-2B, HR, 8RBI
Pitching leaders: #33 Geyer (2-2) 38.1-IP, 2.92 ERA, 38K | #24 Potts (3-3) 22.1-IP, 6.58 ERA, 21K
 
Austin Peay (12-8, 0-0 ASUN)
Series record: Butler leads, 4-0
The Governors have wins that include Ohio, Central Michigan, USI, and Drexel, Losses include Sam Houston (2), Georgia State (2), and UIC. The team split with Lamar and McNeese State.
Hitting leaders: #4 Baker (.431) 31H, 3SB | #9 Shelander (.407) 24H, 7-2B, 4HR, 16 RBI | #5 Raper (.327) 16H, 9HR, 15RBI
Pitching leaders: #14 Jones (7-3) 52.0-IP, 2.96 ERA, 47K | #17 Nichols (0-1) 20.1-IP, 3.79 ERA, 6K | #28 Grayson (4-4) 37.2-IP, 4.83 ERA, 12K
 
Lipscomb (4-14*, 0-0 ASUN)
Series record: Lipscomb leads, 2-5
The Bisons have wins over UAB, SEMO, Towson, and Furman. Losses include Purdue, Clemson, Baylor, SIU, Bowling Green, and Western Carolina.
Hitting leaders: #4 Kirby (.469) 23H, 2-2B | #23 Cunningham (.407) 24H, 2-2B, 8SB | #44 Sherman (.322) 19H, 4-2B, 3HR,
13RBI | #14 Martin (.317) 13H, 3-2B, 4HR, 15RBI
Pitching leaders: #14 Martin (0-3) 30.1-IP, 3.23 ERA, 9K | #27 Beam (1-6) 43.2-IP, 4.17 ERA, 21K