Butler and DePaul split a pair of contests Saturday in Rosemont, Ill., with each team pulling away in convincing fashion. In the opener, DePaul scored a 9-1 decision in five innings before Butler rebounded with a 10-1 win in the second game. Butler is now 23-17 on the season and 6-4 in BIG EAST play. DePaul is 19-21 and Butler handed them their first BIG EAST loss as the Blue Demons are now 9-1.

In the second game, Sarah Dixon and Cheyenne Thompson each homered to go along with a double. Chelsea Norwood had three hits, while Kaitlin Doud and Katelyn Cahill each had two.

The teams would trade runs in the first inning before a four-run top of the third featuring Thompson's three-run homer got the Bulldogs rolling. That would be all that Mikeila Boroff would need in the circle for Butler, as she scattered 10 hits in the complete-game win to improve to 7-3 on the season.

In the opener, DePaul broke a scoreless game open with five runs in the bottom of the third. They would tack on another three in the fourth inning.

Butler would get on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth as Alyssa Lach singled in Dixon.

Kristin Gutierrez got the start and took the loss to fall to 9-9 on the season. Kacey Starwalt and Addison Baumle pitched in relief. DePaul registered 12 hits.

The teams return to the field Sunday at 1 p.m. (Eastern/Noon Central) for the rubber game of the series. Live stats and a subscription-based video feed are available for the contest.