ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Butler softball team moved on to day two of the BIG EAST championship with an opening-game, 10-3, win over No. 1 seed Providence. The Bulldogs, who came in as the No. 4 seed, opened the game with nine runs in the first inning and never looked back.
With the victory, Butler advances to play the winner of game two between No. 2 seed UConn and No. 3 seed Creighton.
Cate Lehner broke a Butler career record in the game when she stole second base in the first inning. It was her 108
th steal over four seasons with the Bulldogs.
Game 1: No. 4 seed Butler 10, No. 1 seed Providence 3 (7 innings)
Butler erupted for nine runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by an
Alona Boydston 2-RBI single, a
Hailey Conger 2-RBI triple, and a
Makena Alexander RBI double. Providence used two pitchers and allowed five walks in the frame.
The Friars got on the board with an RBI-double in their half of the first, but Butler matched it on a sacrifice fly in the second. The 10-1 lead held through four complete.
In the fifth, Providence scored two on a single, extending the game, but the Dawgs' pitching and defense held in the final two innings.
Maren Berger (5-5) picked up a complete-game victory for the Bulldogs. In 7.0 innings, she allowed three runs on 10 hits and one walk with two strikeouts.
Bulldog Bits
- Conger's triple was her first this season and the fourth of her career.
- Alexander's double was her 10th this season and the 22nd of her career.
- Berger picked up her third complete-game win in four complete games this season.
Up Next
With today's win, Butler will now play in Game 4 of the championship on Friday, May 8, at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT). The opponent will be the winning team of today's contest between No. 2 seed UConn and No. 3 seed Creighton.
