CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Butler softball team defeated Western Michigan in the first of five games at the Cathi Maynard Invitational and then lost to the host, Austin Peay, in the second game of the day. The Bulldogs (6-8) never trailed against the Broncos (7-7) winning by the final score of 12-5. The contest vs. the Governors (13-8) was a back-and-forth affair, as the home team scored two in the seventh inning to win by one, 7-6.
 
The victory vs. WMU was Scott Hall's 350^th win as head coach at Butler. He remains the all-time winningest coach in the history of the program.
 

Game 1: Butler 12, WMU 5 (7 innings)
 
Cate Lehner led the game off with a double, and later, with the bases loaded, Makena Alexander hit a sacrifice fly that gave the Dawgs an early lead. The following inning, Hailey Conger singled, allowing Paxton Law to score from second as Butler's lead increased to 2-0.
 
In the bottom of the second, WMU used a single and a home run to tie the score at two.
 
In the fourth, Kendall Graves smacked a double, and then Paxton Law brought her home on a two-run dinger. Later, Alexander and Alona Boydston each singled in additional runs as the Dawgs built a four-run lead. Before the inning ended, Kieli Ryan cleared the bases with a three-run bomb. When the dust had settled, the Dawgs were up, 9-2.
 
The Broncos closed the gap in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on a single and a double.
 
One inning later, Butler got two back on three hits that included an Alexander double, and then, with an additional unearned run in the sixth, the Dawgs again led by seven, 12-5.
 
Katie Petran (2.0-IP, 2R, 2H, 2BB, K) started in the circle for Butler and lasted through two. Going into the third, Alyx Johnson (1-0) entered and finished the game. She picked up the first win of her career, allowing three runs on four hits with three walks and a strikeout over 5.0 innings.
 
 
Game 2: Austin Peay 7, Butler 6 (7 innings)
 
In the top of the first inning, with Lehner on third and Kayla Preiss on first, a double steal gave Butler an early, 1-0 lead. In the bottom half, Austin Peay struck back with a two-run home run to take a one-run lead.
 
In the third, with Conger on second and Priess on first, Alexander singled and tied the game at two.
 
In the top of the fourth, singles from Boydston, Erin Clark, and Law produced a pair of Butler runs and gave the Dawgs a 4-2 lead.
 
The Governors took the lead, 5-4, in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of home runs, but Butler battled back in its next at bat. The Bulldogs loaded the bases, and Alexander drew a walk to tie the game at five. Two batters later, Boydston singled in the go-ahead run.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Austin Peay tied the game at six with a solo home run. After a walk and a single, the Governors walked it off, beating the play at the plate for their seventh run.
 
Maren Berger (4.1-IP, 5R, 4ER, 8H, K) started in the circle for Butler and pitched into the fifth. Kate Murray (2-3) entered in the bottom of the fifth with one runner on, down 4-5. She finished the game and took the loss.
 

Bulldog Bits

• Law's home run was a career first.
• Ryan's home run was her first this season and the third of her career.
• Lehner's double was her first this season and the fifth of her career.
• The double by Graves was her third this season.
• Alexander's double was her third this season and the 15^th of her career.
• Johnson's win in the circle was her career first.

Up Next
Butler will remain in Clarksville, Tenn., and play a doubleheader vs. Austin Peay on Saturday. Scheduled start times are 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT) and 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. CT).