Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Butler split a doubleheader at Providence Saturday, winning an 8-3 decision in the opening game before PC responded with a 14-6 win in five innings in the second half of the twinbill. The Bulldogs saw their winning streak stretch to six games with the opening win before PC put a stop to that.

With the two results Saturday, Butler is now 17-18 on the season and an impressive 5-2 in BIG EAST play. PC is now 11-19 (2-6).

In the first game, PC took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning off a home run from Nicole Lundstrom off Gabbi Schnaiter. After that two-run home run, a strikeout and a walk, Butler made a pitching change and Kaitlin Doud moved into the circle. She would go the final 6.2 innings.

The 2-0 Providence lead continued until the top of the fourth. Christina Candotti and Katelyn Cahill walked early in the frame. Sarah Dixon stepped up and belted a shot off the left field foul pole for a 3-2 Butler lead.

The teams would trade scoreless innings until the top of the seventh when Brandyce Sallee doubled in Dixon for an insurance run. Alyssa Lach then doubled in pinch-runner Alyssa Garcia. With two outs, Candotti homered to left field to score she and Lach. Doud followed with her own blast to left field for back-to-back shots. That gave Butler an 8-2 lead.

Providence pushed across an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh for the 8-3 final. Doud got the win, going 6.2 innings and allowing only the one unearned run. She scattered five hits and three walks.

Butler got to PC starter Christina Ramirez for eight runs on 11 hits. The Bulldogs forced her to throw 158 pitches. Dixon and Sallee each had three hits, while Lach and Candotti added two apiece.

In the second game, Providence jumped out to a 7-0 lead after three innings, thanks in large part to two homers from Vanessa Portillo. Butler would not go quietly, responding with a six-run top of the fourth.

The half-inning was capped by a pinch-hit grand slam from freshman Kennedy Minko. It was her second long ball of the season.

Providence would respond with six runs of their own in the bottom half en route to finishing the game in five innings, 14-6.

The teams return to action Sunday with a single game that is scheduled for a noon first pitch.