NOTRE DAME, IND. -- Allie Rhodes and Katie Beriont combined on a four-hit shutout and led host Notre Dame to a victory over Butler, 8-0 in six innings on Wednesday (April 8).  The loss dropped the Bulldogs to 15-30 on the season.

Rhodes pitched five shutout innings, allowing just three hits while improving to 12-4 on the year.  Beriont tossed the final inning and allowed a single hit.  The two Notre Dame hurlers combined for three strikeouts and two walks.

Notre Dame (29-11) broke up a 0-0 deadlock with four runs in the bottom of the third inning and then added two more in the fourth frame.  The big blow in the third inning was a two-run, home run by Emilee Koerner, while Casey Africano belted a solo home run in the fourth inning.

The Fighting Irish scored a single run in the fifth inning and then finished off the run-shortened victory with a single run in the bottom of the sixth.

The Bulldogs appeared headed for a good start when Brandyce Sallee slugged a two-out double and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  But the Irish caught Alex Kotter on a steal attempt to end the inning.

Kotter led the Bulldogs with a pair of hits in two trips to the plate, while Sarah Gronowski added Butler's other hit.

Kristen Gutierrez started the game for the Bulldogs and allowed four runs in three innings.  Mikeila Boroff gave up the final four runs in two-and-two-thirds innings of work.

Butler will return to BIG EAST play with a three-game series at home against Villanova, starting on Saturday, April 11.