VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Butler softball team won the rubber match of its series with Villanova and improved its chances of earning a spot in this coming week's BIG EAST Tournament. The Bulldogs (22-27, 11-13 BIG EAST) scored early and never trailed in the game, holding the regular-season conference-champion Wildcats (28-22, 19-5 BIG EAST) to just a single run.
Butler and Providence have been fighting for the sixth seed and final line on the bracket in the postseason conference championship. With today's win, the Bulldogs have forced the Friars to win their final two games at Creighton or be eliminated.
Game 3: Butler 2, Villanova 1 (7 innings)
Butler got on the board first when
Paige Dorsett doubled and knocked in
Cate Lehner. The Dawgs had a 1-0 lead after one complete inning.
Two innings later,
Ella White connected on a solo home run to right center. The 2-0 lead held through six complete.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases with only one out in the top of the sixth but could not add to the lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Villanova's Ava Franz hit a leadoff home run, cutting Butler's lead to 2-1.
Katie Petran, who pitched a complete game, then forced the next three batters to ground or line out to secure the victory.
Petran (14-7) allowed only one run in 7.0 innings, allowing four hits and two walks with one strikeout.
Bulldog Bits
- Ella White's home run was her tenth of the season and the 22nd of her career.
- Paige Dorsett's double was her ninth of the season and 21st of the season.
- Katie Petran's complete game victory was her 11th of the season.
Up Next
Butler will await the results of the series between Providence and Creighton which will determine participation in the BIG EAST Tournament.
