INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler baseball team will head to Villanova this weekend for the first BIG EAST series of the season. In the past 21 meetings between the Bulldogs and the Wildcats, the Bulldogs lead 14-7 in the series that goes back to 2014. The 'Dawgs have gone 6-3 when playing at Villanova Park. 
 
Projected Starters
Friday, April 8 – LHP Cory Bosecker vs. Cole Patten
Saturday, April 9 – RHP Aaron Barokas vs. Tyler Arella
Sunday, April 10 – LHP Nick Eaton vs. Brandon Siegenthaler
 
Scouting Villanova
The Wildcats entered the season projected to finish eighth in the league's preseason coaches poll. They currently sit in second place behind Georgetown in BIG EAST play with a 9-15-1 overall record and 1-2 in conference play. The 'Cats are coming off a 4-0 shutout win against Lafayette College and previously played a BIG EAST series against Georgetown, where they went 1-3 on the weekend. 
 
Patten is 1-4 on the season with a 3.02 ERA and has 42 Ks over 44.2 innings. Arella is 1-2 this year with a 9.68 ERA and has 14 Ks over 17.2 innings of work. Siegenthaler has pitched 25 innings and has 23 Ks on the season. Patten and Siegenthaler have both been close to a nine-strikeout day this year. This season, Patten is leading the 'Cats with 42 strikeouts, and Siegenthaler ranks third with 23.
 
29-29
Travis Holt and Ryan O'Halloran have started in all 29 games for the Bulldogs. Holt has led off for BU in every game while starting at shortstop. O'Halloran is primarily in the lineup at third base. 
 
Dawgs will go 
Butler is sharing the top spot for most stolen bases in the BIG EAST with 48. Travis Holt leads the team with 13 steals. 
 
Bosecker on the mound
This past week, LHP Cory Bosecker earned a spot on the BIG EAST Honor Roll after throwing 6 1/3 shutout innings — striking out 11 batters he faced. He holds a 5.24 ERA through all his seven starts.

Team Leaders
Runs: 23 - Travis Holt
Home runs: 7- Aaron Steinhart
RBI: 26 - Aaron Steinhart 
Ks: 40 - Cory Bosecker 
  
Up Next
Butler will host Evansville next week at Bulldog Park for a midweek matchup at 4 PM. 
 
Follow Along
For updates, follow the Butler baseball team on Instagram @Butler_Base and Twitter @ButlerUBaseball.