CHICAGO, Ill. - The Green Bay softball team opened the 2020 season on Friday at the Rambler Rumble, taking the diamond against Western Illinois and Butler. The Phoenix (0-2) came up short in both contests, falling to the Leathernecks, 5-2, and later to the Bulldogs, 9-3.

Western Illinois 5, Green Bay 2
The opening two frames were scoreless for both squads in game one, but the Leathernecks managed to plate three runs in the third inning after a home run, an RBI double and a single that snuck through the left side.

Green Bay erased most of its deficit in the sixth inning when Morgan Buhun hit a home run to center field which also brought Bailey Schultz home, who singled to left center earlier in the frame.

The Leathernecks added to their advantage in the seventh inning, scoring early in the frame after a triple followed by a sacrifice fly to right field. An RBI double would lead to the final run of the game crossing the plate, as WIU held out for a 5-2 victory.

Bihun registered the only multi-hit game for the Phoenix, finishing 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Kayla Schwebke was in the circle for the season opener, pitching all seven innings while allowing five earned runs and picking up four strikeouts.

Butler 9, Green Bay 3
Two runs in each of the first three innings put the Bulldogs out in front 6-0 in the early action.

The Phoenix got its own bats going in the fourth, starting things off with a single from Schultz, a walk from Kalyssa Koehn and an RBI double from Bihun. Rebecca Radtke and Alyssa Brewer also tallied RBIs in the inning, as GB headed to the bottom of the fourth trailing 6-3.

The Bulldogs matched Green Bay's offensive production in the bottom of the inning with three runs of their own, ultimately leading things 9-3 with three innings to play.

The final three frames were scoreless for both teams as Butler secured a 9-3 victory.

Bihun notched an additional two hits and one RBI in game two, capping her day at the plate with a 4-for-5 performance with three RBIs.

Green Bay returns to the diamond tomorrow for matchups against Omaha and Loyola.

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