Butler celebrated its senior class with a doubleheader sweep of Providence Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis. The Bulldogs took a 2-0 win in the opener and followed that with a walk-off 5-4 victory in the second game of the day.

The Bulldogs have now won six straight games. That has pushed Butler's season record to 19-21 overall and 7-4 in BIG EAST play. Providence falls to 10-26 (4-9 BIG EAST).

Butler's seniors were recognized in a pregame ceremony, but it was junior Kaitlin Doud who contributed to much of the heroics Saturday afternoon. Doud pitched seven shutout innings in the opener and then it was her swing that sent Butler fans home happy in the second game.

After freshman Alyssa Graves loaded the bases to start the first game, Butler coach Scott Hall called on Doud in relief. Doud struck out the first two batters she faced and then induced a groundout to get out of the bases-loaded, no-out jam. Over the course of her seven innings of work, she allowed only two hits while walking none. Doud struck out six Friars.

Butler's offense in the first game came in the second inning. Senior Sarah Dixon homered to left center just two pitches after fouling a ball off her foot. It was her second home run of the season, with both coming this week. Cheyenne Thompson plated a run later in the inning for the 2-0 lead that would hold up.

In the second game, Butler took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on freshman Claire Gilliland's third home run of the season. Her solo shot was her third in the team's last four games.

Providence took the lead with a four-run top of the third, highlighted by a three-run home run by Brittney Veler. The four runs came off starter Gabbi Schnaiter, who gave way to Graves during the frame.

Graves pitched shutout ball for the remainder of the game to give the Bulldogs a chance. After a few opportunities were denied by the Friars in the ensuing innings, Butler made one last stand in the bottom of the seventh. Alyssa Garcia and Jenna Foreman led off the inning with hits. Doud stepped to the plate with those two runners on second and third, and only one out.

Her blast over the right field wall turned a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 walk-off win. For Doud, it was her sixth homer of the season.

Dixon, Alyssa Lach, Ambry Turpen, and Mikeila Boroff were honored in a pregame ceremony as they played their last home weekend series as Bulldogs.
Butler looks for the series sweep Sunday when the teams meet one more time at noon.