INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Visiting Villanova rode two strong pitching performances and some clutch hitting to a pair of victories over Butler on Saturday, April 11.  The Wildcats won the first game at the Butler Softball Field, 2-0, and then completed the sweep with a 9-2 victory in the nightcap.

Junior Kate Poppe and sophomore Brette Lawrence provided stellar work in the cricle for the Wildcats.  Poppe blanked the Bulldogs on six hits in the opener, and Lawrence surrendered just two unearned runs in the second.

Junior Shea Palmer had the biggest hit of the day for Villanova with a two-out, two run double in the sixth inning to provide all of the scoring in the first game.  Freshman Tianah Hathaway led the offense in the second game with three runs batted, while freshman Dana Morris added a pair of RBIs.

Poppe (8-11) and Butler's Kristin Gutierrez were locked in a classic "pitcher's duel" in the opening game.  Gutierrez was perfect through three innings and carried a no-hitter into the fifth.  Ali Angelbello broke up the no-hitter in the top of the fifth with a sharp single to left field, but Gutierrez escaped unscathed.

Freshman Brittany Husk then opened the Villanova sixth with an infield single and sophomore Lauren Herschberg followed with a single to left field.  A sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, and then Gutierrez loaded the bases with an intentional walk to Morris.  The Butler left-hander retired Sierra McConnell on an infield pop-up, before Palmer delivered the game-winning blow.

Butler threatened in the fourth inning, loading the bases with one out.  But Poppe wiggled off the hook by retiring two straight Bulldogs to end the inning.

Junior Krosley Odgen led the Bulldogs with three hits in four trips to the plate.  Gutierrez (7-11) finished with two strikeouts and two walks.

The Wildcats (18-18, 6-5 BIG EAST) jumped in front with a pair of runs off of Butler starter Mikeila Boroff in the second inning.  The visitors then pulled away with two more runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the fifth.  Morris had the big blow in the fifth with a two-run, home run.

Butler (15-22, 3-8 BIG EAST) nicked Lawrence for a single run in the third inning on a squeeze bunt by Chelsea Norwood.  Alex Kotter, after reaching on a fielder's choice, scored Butler's final run when Palmer miss-played a single by Brandyce Sallee in center field.

Sarah Dixon had two of Butler's six hits off of Lawrence.

Butler and Villanova will meet in the final game of the three-game BIG EAST series on Sunday, April 12.  The single game at the Butler Softball Field will start at 12 p.m.