VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Butler softball team won the opening game of a series with regular-season conference champion Villanova but then dropped the second game of the Friday doubleheader. The Bulldogs (21-27, 10-13 BIG EAST) and Wildcats (28-21, 19-4 BIG EAST) will play the rubber match on Saturday.
 
Villanova has locked up the number one seed in the postseason BIG EAST Tournament, while the Bulldogs are fighting with Providence for the sixth and final spot. Winning percentage in BIG EAST play is the determining factor in all seeding, with head-to-head results breaking any ties. With its win today, Butler is now 10-13 (.435) with one game to potentially play. Providence is 10-12 (.455) with two potential games remaining, both at Creighton.
 
 
Game 1: Butler 7, Villanova 3 (7 innings)
 
In the top of the first inning, Hailey Conger reached base, and Ella White (2-4, HR, 2RBI) brought her home with a two-run home run. Butler led, 2-0, after one complete.
 
In the second, Villanova got one back using a double, a passed ball, and an RBI single. The score was 2-1 Bulldogs.
 
After the Wildcats had tied the game at 2-2 in the third, Rylyn Dyer replaced starter Katie Petran in the circle. Villanova added one more and led, 3-2, going into the fourth.
 
Back-to-back singles in the fourth put Butler back into the lead. Olivia Moxley (2-3, 2RBI) knocked in Olivia Roberts from third, and Cate Lehner's (3-4, RBI, SB) hard infield hit caromed off the Villanova pitcher, allowing Kieli Ryan to score.
 
In the sixth, Moxley hit her second RBI-single of the day, putting the Bulldogs up, 5-3.
 
The Dawgs added a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh. After a White single, Monique Hoosen (3-4, 2B, RBI) and Teagan O'Rilley hit back-to-back doubles, extending the lead to 7-3.
 
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but a diving catch by Kaylee Gross in left field produced the third out and ended the game.
 
Katie Petran (3.0IP, 3R, 5H, 3BB) started in the circle for Butler. She was replaced by Rylyn Dyer in the third inning but returned in the seventh to finish the game. Dyer pitched 4.0 innings and was credited with the win for the Bulldogs. She held the Wildcats scoreless while giving up four hits and a walk.
 
 
Game 2: Villanova 7, Butler 5 (7 innings)
 
Villanova struck early, scoring three runs on five singles in the bottom of the first inning.
 
In the top of the third, three straight singles from the Bulldogs pushed Olivia Moxley across for Butler's first run. Ella White (2-4, RBI) then singled and sent Cate Lehner (3-4, RBI) home. Finally, Paige Dorsett hit a bloop single to right center that allowed Hailey Conger and White to score. The Bulldogs took the lead, 4-3.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Wildcats tied the game with a home run.
 
In the top of the fourth, Moxley tripled and then slid home on a Lehner single. The 5-4 lead was short lived, however, as Villanova used a single and a double to tie the game at five in the bottom half of the frame.
 
One inning later, the Wildcats scored a pair of runs and recaptured the lead, 7-5.
 
In the top of the seventh, Butler loaded the bases, with one out, but a fly ball and a strikeout ended the game.
 
Katie Petran (1.0IP, 3R, 5H) started in the circle for Butler and was replaced by Sydney Cammon at the top of the second inning. Cammon (7-10) lasted 3.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks to go along with one strikeout. She took the loss. Kayla Noerr (1.2IP, H, K) finished the game without allowing a run.
 
Bulldog Bits

• Ella White's home run in game one was her ninth of the season and the 21^st of her career. She totaled four hits on the day.
• Olivia Moxley's triple in game two was her first of the season and third of her career.
• Monique Hoosen's double in game one was her fifth of the season and 20^th of her career.
• Teagan O'Rilley's double in game one was her eighth of the season and 15^th of the season.
• Cate Lehner led the Bulldogs with six hits and two stolen bases on the day. She now has 24 stolen bases this season and 41 in her career.
• The win in the circle for Rylyn Dyer in game one was her first victory of the season and the sixth of her career.
• Butler's 15 hits in game one were the most in a BIG EAST game this season and the third most in the 2024 schedule.

Up Next
Butler remains in Villanova for the final game of the series with the Wildcats. First pitch on Saturday, Apr. 4, is scheduled for 12:15.