Auburn, Ala. -- Butler scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning and posted a three-run sixth en route to a 9-1 victory over Furman in the softball season opener for both schools on Friday morning at the Plainsmen Invitational in Auburn, Ala.

Brandyce Sallee, who went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three runs, got the Bulldogs on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. She ripped a two-out double to right-center and scored when Alyssa Lach singled to right and the throw to home plate got away from the catcher.

Furman (0-1) evened the game with its lone run in the top of the third. Brittany Houston lined a single through the left side, went to third base on Elise Smith's bloop single down the right field line and scored on a passed ball.

Butler (1-0) blew the game open in the bottom of the frame as Sarah Dixon reached on an infield single with one out and Sallee followed with a walk to set the table.  Lach singled to drive in the first run and Kaitlin Doud added two more with a two-run triple off of the wall in straightaway center field. A sacrifice fly upped the margin to 5-1.

The Bulldogs added a single run in the fifth and ended the game with three in the sixth inning. A walk and a throwing error led to the first run before Sallee delivered an RBI single and Lach capped the game with a two-run double to left-center.

Lach finished 3-for-4 with two RBI to join Sallee in pacing the Bulldogs' nine-hit attack.

Kristin Gutierrez limited Furman to an unearned run on six hits over six innings to pick up the win.  She walked one and fanned four.

Freshman Emily Demonte took the loss for Furman in her collegiate debut.  She allowed four earned runs on six hits over four innings. The right-hander issued two walks and struck out one batter.

Taylor Vahle, a freshman from Orlando, Fla., led the Paladins at the plate going 2-for-3, while sophomore AnnaRose Borrelli added a double.

On Saturday, Furman takes on nationally-ranked Auburn at 3 p.m. CST/4 p.m. EST on the SEC Network+ before facing former Southern Conference foe Appalachian State at 5:30 p.m. CST/6:30 p.m. EST.

Live stats will be available for each of Furman's games this weekend by logging onto www.FurmanPaladins.com.



Jordan Caskey, Furman Sports Information