INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- St. John's broke up a pitchers' duel with three runs in the top of the fifth inning and went on to post a 5-1 victory over Butler in the final game of a three-game BIG EAST series at the Butler Softball Field on Sunday (March 29).  The win gave the Red Storm a sweep of the series.

Butler left-hander Kristin Gutierrez and St. John's right-hander Tori Free battled to a scoreless tie through the first four innings of the contest.  Gutierrez blanked the visitors on two hits, while Free limited the Bulldogs to just a single hit.

But the Red Storm (10-13, 3-0 BIG EAST) took advantage of three walks and wound up scoring three runs on just two hits in the top of the fifth inning.  Lexi Robles drove in the first run of the game with a single to left field, and Krystal Puga added a two-run single later in the inning.

St. John's added two more runs on a pair of hits, two walks and a hit batter in the sixth inning to stretch the lead to 5-0.  That proved to be more than enough for Free, who finished the three-game series with two victories and a save.  She gave up a single unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning and finished the game with five strikeouts and two walks while limiting the Bulldogs to just three hits.

Butler (14-15, 2-4 BIG EAST) opened the game with an infield single by leadoff hitter Krosley Ogden, but then didn't get another hit until a leadoff single by Alex Kotter in the seventh.  Kotter advanced to second on a single by Chelsea Norwood, reached third on a wild pitch and scored Butler's lone run on a throwing error by St. John's catcher Erin Burner.

Gutierrez took her second loss of the series and fell to 6-7 on the year.

Butler will continue its wrap-up its current homestand with a non-conference doubleheader against Indiana State on Tuesday, March 31.  The first game of the twinbill at the Butler Softball Field will start at 2 p.m.