Home runs proved to be the difference in a pair of Saturday contests as Butler and Creighton split a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the Butler Softball Field in Indianapolis. The Bluejays won the opener, 3-2, before the Bulldogs responded to win the second game, 3-0.

With the results, Butler now stands at 24-20 overall and 7-6 in BIG EAST play. Creighton is 25-16 (7-5).

In the opener, Butler got on the board first with two runs in the bottom half of the initial frame. Maggie MacBeth singled and stole second, advancing to third on an error. She scored on a Brandyce Sallee triple with one out. Alyssa Lach scored Sallee with a sacrifice fly.

Creighton would respond in the top of the second with a two-run homer by Blake Ringle. Allie Reinhart would lead off the top of the third with a home run for a 3-2 Creighton advantage.

In the bottom of the seventh, Butler put two runners on due to a walk and an error. With runners at first and third with two outs, Creighton's Tash Coffiel made a diving stop on a ball up the middle and got the force at second to end the inning and seal the win.

Creighton's Micaela Whitney did not allow a hit after the two in the first inning. She struck out 10 to improve to 8-6 on the season. 

Kristin Gutierrez (9-11) went the distance for Butler, allowing eight hits and the three runs. She struck out 10.

In the second game, Butler's Mikeila Boroff and Sydnee Eck matched scoreless innings through five innings. In the bottom of the sixth, freshman Kaitlin Doud stepped to the plate with two on and two out. She worked the count full and then sent a drive just over the center field wall for a 3-0 Butler advantage. It was her fifth homerun of the season.

Creighton had one more frame to try and tie things up. After a quick two outs, the Bluejays put together back-to-back hits to bring the tying run to the plate. Gutierrez relieved Boroff and got a strikeout to end the game. It was her third save of the season.

Boroff improved to 8-3 on the season, allowing seven hits while striking out four. Eck (13-8) surrendered only four hits on the afternoon, but took the loss for Creighton.

Prior to the game, Butler's three seniors – Gutierrez, Riley Carter and Krosley Ogden – were recognized for their accomplishments in a Butler uniform. This weekend serves as the last home BIG EAST series of the season for Butler.

The teams meet Sunday to settle the series. The first pitch is set for 11 a.m. Live stats will be available on Butler's web site. It is Strikeout Cancer Day and Butler will wear pink jerseys.