INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler softball team dropped game one of a three-game BIG EAST series with Connecticut on Friday by the final score of 16-3. The Bulldogs (17-14, 9-4 BIG EAST) scored three runs in their half of the first inning to trail by only one, but the Huskies (18-22, 10-3 BIG EAST) used four total home runs in the contest to end the game after six innings.
Cate Lehner was three-for-three with a triple to lead Butler at the plate.
In the top of the first inning, the Huskies rattled off three singles and a home run to take an early, 4-0, lead. Butler responded with three runs in the bottom half to cut the lead to one. Lehner hit a lead-off triple, and
Hailey Conger and
Kayla Preiss both walked. A double by
Olivia Robards brought two runners home, and a sacrifice fly by
Alona Boydston plated the third. The UConn one-run lead held through four complete innings.
In the fifth, the Huskies produced a two-run double to increase their lead to 6-3. One inning later, the visitors exploded with 10 runs on seven hits that included three home runs and three doubles.
Katie Petran (7-5) started in the circle for Butler and took the loss. In 0.2 innings, she allowed four runs on three hits and a walk.
Alyx Johnson (4.1-IP, 6R, 9H, 2BB, 2K) pitched the bulk of the game but was relieved in the sixth by
Kate Murray (1.0-IP, 6R, 2ER, 5H, 2K) who finished the game.
Bulldog Bits
- Lehner's triple was her first this season and the fourth of her career.
- The double by Robards was her eleventh this season and the 22nd of her career.
- With one run scored today, Conger tied Lehner (2025) and Bridget Paine (2010) for the Butler record of 42 runs scored in a single season.
Up Next
Butler and UConn will play game two of the three-game BIG EAST series on Saturday, April 11, at 1 p.m.
