WASHINGTON, D.C.. -- Butler rebounded from a narrow, 6-5 extra-inning setback in the opening game of a BIG EAST doubleheader at Georgetown on Friday (April 18) and captured a 4-2 victory in the nightcap to earn a first day split.  The two teams will wrap up the three-game conference series on Saturday, April 19.

Pitchers Callie Dennison and Allie Tarrant combined to limit Georgetown to two runs on six hits, and the Bulldogs held on to an early lead to secure the second game win.  Junior Cassie Rupel sparked the offense with a pair of runs batted in, while junior Maria Leichty chipped in with her second home run of the day.

The Bulldogs jumped in front in the first inning on a run-scoring single by Rupel and then stretched the lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the third inning.  Rupel drove in the first with a ground out and junior Kristen Boros scored the second on a Georgetown error.  Leichty closed out Butler's scoring with a solo home run in the seventh inning.

Dennison pitched the first four-and-a-third innings, allowing two runs on five hits, and picked up her first victory of the season.  Tarrant closed out the game and blanked the Hoyas over two-and-two-thirds innings on a single hit.

Sophomore Krosley Ogden and freshman Brandyce Sallee each had a pair of hits in the win for the Bulldogs.

The opening game of the series went nine innings, before the Hoyas prevailed on a run-scoring single by Elyse Graziano.  The nine-inning contest matched Butler's longest game of the season.

The Bulldogs fell behind by three runs in the first two innings and trailed 5-2 heading into the top of the seventh frame.   Junior Sarah Gronowski started a one-out ralley with a single with a bunt single.  She advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored one a two-out single by freshman Chelsea Norwood.

Leichty followed with her first home run of the day to tie the game at 5-5 and send the contest into extra innings.  The Butler catcher finished the game with three hits and three RBIs in four trips to the plate.  Gronowski and Norwood each had a pair of hits.

The Hoyas chalked up 12 hits and 10 walks off of three Butler pitchers.

The final game of the series is scheduled to start at noon on Saturday at Georgetown's Guy Mason Field.