NEW YORK – Butler will head to the postseason for the first time in program history as members of the BIG EAST Conference. Their 3-0 victory at No. 12 St. John's on Friday afternoon moved their conference record to 9-7, separating them from the Creighton Bluejays for at least a No. 4 seed in the upcoming BIG EAST Championship Tournament. With Georgetown and Seton Hall rained out again today, the Bulldogs currently sit in third place of the conference standings.
 
Butler is now tournament bound for the first time since 2012, when they were still a member of the Horizon League. Sophomore pitcher Ryan Pepiot played a huge role in today's outcome to help the 'Dawgs clinch their spot in the postseason. The 6-3 right-hander tossed eight complete innings of shutout baseball at St. John's limiting the Red Storm to just three hits. He struck out 10 and only issued three walks.
 
Jack Pilcher finished off the Johnnies in the ninth inning to collect his team-best ninth save of the season. Pilcher entered the game with one on and no out. He struck out the first two batters and a ground out to third would make Butler victorious.
 
Pepiot did his job on the mound and senior Garrett Christman would give him some run support with two RBI. Christman singled through the right side in the top of the first inning to give Butler the 1-0 lead. That lead would move to 2-0 after the second inning with Zach Jarosz picking up an RBI on a fielder's choice. Each BU run scored at the start of the game went down unearned.
 
Christman's second RBI of the game came in the seventh on a single to centerfield. Tyler Houston came around to score the insurance run.
 
Butler defeated St. John's for just the second time to earn their spot in the postseason. The group is now just one win away from tying the single season school record.
 
Game two of the scheduled doubleheader will get underway at 4PM. Fans can watch the game live on the CBS Sports Network.