Series Information – Villanova
DATE:                         Friday, Mar. 11 – Sunday, Mar. 13
LOCATION:                Villanova, Penn. / Softball Complex
LIVE STATS:              Links for all games
LIVE VIDEO:              FloSports
 
Full Notes

The Butler softball team opens BIG EAST play this weekend with a series against Villanova. Weather is likely to play a factor in game scheduling, as both rain and cold temperatures are in the weekend forecast. Currently, a doubleheader is scheduled for Friday, Mar. 11, with 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm start times. Game three will hopefully be played either Saturday, Mar. 12, at 12 pm or Sunday, Mar. 13, at 12 pm. Updates will be provided at butlersports.com as well as on @ButlerSoftball's Twitter.

The Bulldogs currently sit at 12-7 through four non-conference tournaments. Most recently, Butler went 4-1 in the Blues City Classic in Memphis, Tenn.

Bulldog Bits
 
             (as of 3-6-22)

• Karli Ricketts ranks 28th nationally and first in the BIG EAST with seven wins. Her 1.20 ERA also ranks first in the conference, and her 50 strikeouts from the pitching circle ranks third.
• Alyssa Graves ranks sixth in the BIG EAST with 46 strikeouts.
• Bri Avery ranks third in the BIG EAST with eight stolen bases.
• Monique Hoosen ranks sixth in the BIG EAST with four home runs.
   
• Alyssa Graves was selected as the BIG EAST Softball Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 7 for her performances at the Blues City Classic in Memphis, Tenn., the weekend of Mar. 4-6. Bri Avery was also honored with a position on the five-member honor roll.
   
• This past weekend, Alyssa Graves achieved 525 strikeouts for her career in the pitching circle, reaching the 2nd position on Butler's all-time list. With 30 career wins, she has also moved into a tie for sixth in that category.
• Monique Hoosen hit home runs in consecutive games at the Blues City Classic, the first vs. Iowa and the second vs. IUPUI. They were her third and fourth dingers of this season and the sixth and seventh of her career.
• Through nineteen games, Butler is outperforming its opponents in several categories that include: runs (80-66), hits (143-111), RBIs (70-46), and stolen bases (22-11).
• Coach Scott Hall is in his 12th season at the helm of Bulldogs Softball. He currently sits at 258-284-1 as head of the program, and, with 6 additional victories, could become the all-time winningest coach at Butler. Barb Greenburg, who coached from 1981 through 1994, was the program's first coach and attained a career record of 263-226-4.
   

SCOUTING VILLANOVA
Series Record: Villanova leads, 9-7
Last Meeting: May 14, 2021 - Storrs, Conn. - Villanova 14, Butler 5

• The Wildcats are currently on a four-game winning streak in the series.
• The Bulldogs last won on April 2, 2017, by the score of 9-5.

Villanova's previous tournament: In last weekend's Queen City Classic, the Wildcats split two games with Maryland, lost to Charlotte, and lost to Boston College.

• Villanova is 8-12 with a win over Maryland and a 2-4 loss to No. 14 Duke and an 0-4 loss to #4 Florida.
• For the season, the Wildcats trail their opponents in runs (75-96), hits (129-155), and RBIs (69-83).
• Batting leaders for Villanova include Dani Dabroski (.389), Megan Kern (.381), and Chloe Smith (.296).
• Pitching standouts for the Wildcats are Kelsey White (3-5, 36.1 IP, 3.85 ERA, 22 K), Sara Kennedy (1-3, 28.0 IP, 4.00 ERA, 17 K), and Paige Rauch (4-3, 43.2 IP, 4.33 ERA, 55 K).