BY: JOE HASENSTAB | Staff Reporter

Butler (12-6, 1-0) baseball opened Big East play with a 6-1 victory over the Seton Hall Pirates (20-6, 0-1) on Friday afternoon.

Senior Gunner Johnson started the game for the Bulldogs and threw seven innings of shutout ball. Junior catcher Will Amador had an RBI single in the first inning and sophomore left fielder Nick Bartolone hit a solo homerun in the second.

Butler took advantage of five Pirates errors and several wild pitches to take a 6-0 lead into the seventh inning.

Junior Kyle Allen pitched two innings in relief. He gave up a run in the eighth but struck out two in a flawless ninth inning.

The two teams continue the series tomorrow. First pitch is at 1 p.m. Tomorrow is Stay Positive day at Bulldog Park, and Stay Positive merchandise will be on sale at the game.