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GAME NOTES
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will take their perfect 8-0 record to Kissimmee, Fla. this weekend to take on Saint Peter's and Pittsburgh. The 'Dawgs will face the Peacocks on Friday and Sunday with the Pitt game slated for Saturday. All three games will get underway at 11 AM.
 
Gameday Information                                                                                  
Dates: Friday, Saturday, Sunday / March 2-4
Location: Kissimmee, Fla. / Osceola County Stadium
Watch: D9Events.com - Diamond 9
 
BIG EAST Standings
Butler 8-0           
St. John's 7-0     
Creighton 4-2    
Villanova 3-3     
Xavier 3-4           
Seton Hall 2-4   
Georgetown 0-6
 
Bulldog Bits
- Butler (8-0) is off to one of the best starts in program history
- Garrett Christman hit .438 (7-16) last week and improved to 2-0 on the mound
- Christman was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (2/26)
- Christman has played four different positions for BU over 8 games (P, 3B, 1B, DH)
- BU has outscored opponents 11-2 in the fifth and 17-3 in the sixth
- Butler's last win over an ACC opponent was in 2016, they defeated BC 12-10
- Pitt leads the all-time series against Butler 1-0 (15-7, 2014 season)
- BU has never played Saint Peter's in baseball
- The longest winning streak in BU history is nine games (2015 season)
- Butler has turned 13 double plays this year, they had 34 last season
- BU averages just over two doubles per contest (20 over eight games)
 
What A Start
Butler is now 8-0 accomplishing something that no other Butler baseball team has done in nearly 40 years (Game-by-game results/statistics are not available before the 1980 season).
 
Christman Lands on BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Hit .438 (7-for-16) in a four-game series sweep of George Mason. His stat line boasted eight RBI and four runs with three multi-hit games. His weekend was highlighted by a three-run homer that lifted Butler to a 3-0 victory in a rain-shortened seven inning contest on Sunday. He also earned a win on the mound by tossing 6.2 innings in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
 
Finish Strong
Butler has outscored the opposition 22-3 over the final three innings this season.
 
Probable Starters
Butler will throw LHP Connor Mitchell on Friday against Saint Peter's. He is slated to go up against RHP Willie Krajnik. Saturday's tilt between Butler and Pittsburgh will feature RHP Garrett Christman throwing against RHP Blair Calvo. The final match-up this weekend will be RHP Ryan Pepiot taking on RHP Steve Epstein.
 
BIG EAST Rankings
Butler ranks second in the BIG EAST in all three major categories (batting, pitching fielding). No other BIG EAST team has more hits (83), runs (64), RBI (55), doubles (20), or triples (4) than BU.
 
Fantastic Freshman
James Gargano is batting .370 over the first eight games of his collegiate career. The infielder from Naperville, Ill. has 10 hits in 27 at-bats. Two of his 10 hits went for extra bases allowing him to post four RBI. He also shares the team lead in runs scored (10).
 
Bulldog Bullpen
Seven members of the Bulldog bullpen have a perfect 0.00 ERA. Jack Pilcher and John MacCauley highlight the group. Pilcher has two saves in his three appearances this year. MacCauley is 2-0 in his three games.
 
Mitchell Is in Control
Friday starter Connor Mitchell is 1-0 on the year with a 2.79 ERA. He has a team-high 15 strikeouts in '18 and has only walked one batter over 9.2 innings of work.
 
Up Next
The 2018 home opener is up next for Butler baseball. The Bulldogs will host a three-game series against Fort Wayne from March 9-11. Friday's tilt will start at 3 PM with Saturday and Sunday to follow with 1 PM starts.