INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Junior Riley Carter slugged a clutch, two-out double to give Butler a lead, and the Bulldogs held off a late Villanova rally to post a 5-4 victory in the series finale between the two teams on Sunday, April 12.  The victory, Butler's first at home this season, lifted the Bulldogs to 16-22 on the year and 4-8 in BIG EAST play.

Carter, who had a big day at the plate, stepped up in the bottom of the fourth inning with runners on second and third base, two outs and the scored tied at 1-1.  She delivered with a shot off the left field fence to score both runs, and she later scored the third Butler run of the inning on a single by Sarah Dixon.

"It was huge," said Butler head coach Scott Hall of the double by Carter.  "She's been fighting her swing and really working on it.  She's come up with a couple of big time hits for us this year, but that might have been the biggest."

Butler added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a walk to Brandyce Sallee, a wild pitch and a single up the middle by Carter.  It gave the Bulldogs a 5-2 lead and eventually proved to be the game-winner.

Junior left-hander Kristin Gutierrez, who started for the Bulldogs limited Villanova (18-19, 6-6 BIG EAST) to two runs on six hits through five-and-a third innings.  But she began to tighten up in the sixth and gave way to sophomore Kacey Starwalt, who retired both batters she faced in the inning.

The Wildcats, who had taken the first two games of the series, weren't done.  Brittany Husk opened the final inning with a double and Lauren Herschberg followed with a single.  An infield error plated one run, and Gutierrez was called back to the circle.  She retired two batters, and looked to have put the game away when Sarah Dixon made a spectacular diving catch in left field on a line drive by Shea Palmer.

But the umpire ruled the ball trapped and Villanova scored a single run to make it 5-4  Gutierrez then intentionally walked Ali Angelbello to load the bases, before striking out Natalia Segovia to end the game.

The win snapped a three-game skid for the Bulldogs and ended a seven-game winless streak at home.  The five runs were the most scored by the Bulldogs at home this season.

"We had some kids come up with timely hitting and we were able to execute some short game stuff an move some people around," noted Hall.  "We got to the point where you just have to fight.  We weren't making our own breaks, and today we did."

Carter and senior Kristen Boros each had a pair of hits to lead the Butler attack.  The Bulldogs also came up with some clutch defensive performances, including run-stopping plays by infielders Alyssa Lach and Alex Kotter.

Gutierrez picked up her eighth win of the season, allowing just two earned runs in six-and-a-third innings of work.  She had three strikeouts, including the resounding one in the seventh.

The Bulldogs will step out of conference play for games at Ball State on Tuesday, April 14, and at home against Eastern Illinois on Wednesday, April 15.  Butler will return to BIG EAST play with a three-game series at home against Georgetown, April 18-19.