Catcher Michael DiVesti at the plate. Photo from Collegian archives.

JOSHUA DOERING | STAFF REPORTER | jdoering@butler.edu

The Butler University baseball team kicked off their season in a positive manner, winning three out of four games against LaSalle University and Ohio University in Lexington, South Carolina.

The Bulldogs picked up a 3-1 victory over La Salle in their season opener on Friday. Senior Jeff Schank gave up one run in five innings, and the bullpen provided four hitless innings. Junior outfielder Gehrig Parker, junior infielder Garrett Christman and freshman second baseman Zach Jorosz knocked in Butler’s runs.

Nine runs in the first two innings helped propel the Bulldogs over Ohio on Saturday, 15-4. Senior infielder Michael Hartnagel went 3-of-3, driving in three runs and scoring three runs. Junior outfielder Tyler Houston gave the team its first home run of the season, and freshman Ryan Pepiot went five innings in the first start of his career.

Butler split a doubleheader on Sunday, defeating La Salle 6-5 on a pinch-hit home run from freshman catcher Duncan Hewitt in the eighth inning of the first game. Junior Connor Mitchell surrendered two runs over five innings and was aided by home runs from redshirt senior Chris Maranto and senior designated hitter Michael DiViesti. The Bulldogs then fell to Ohio, 4-0, in the second game.

Butler will travel to Lorman, Mississippi next weekend to play a four game series against Alcorn State University.