DATE:                              Friday, March 13 – Sunday, March 15
LOCATION:                    Villanova, Pa. / Villanova Softball Complex
LIVE STATS:                   butlersports.com (statbroadcast)
LIVE VIDEO:                   ESPN+
 
The Butler softball team opens conference play this weekend, traveling to Villanova for a three-game BIG EAST series. The Bulldogs (7-9, 0-0 BIG EAST) are coming of a weekend in the Nashville, Tenn., area where they picked up wins over Western Michigan and Lipscomb. The Wildcats (5-19, 2-1 BIG EAST) went 2-1 last weekend in a conference series at DePaul and most recently defeated Monmouth in a midweek contest.
 
Bulldog Bits                                                            
       at the Maynard Invitational

• Makena Alexander earned BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll recognition after slashing .545/.647/.909 and generating nine RBIs over four games.
• Olivia Robards cracked five doubles in the doubleheader at Lipscomb on Sunday -- three in game one and a pair in the nightcap.
• Alyx Johnson picked up the first two wins of her career -- vs. Western Michigan and vs. Lipscomb.
   
• BIG EAST coaches ranked Butler 6th in the 2026 Preseason Poll. The St. John's Red Storm was voted preseason favorite behind six first place votes and a league-best 62 points. Creighton and UConn followed, in the tie for the second spot, with 51 points each. Villanova (50) ranked fourth, and Providence (32) came in fifth. With 31 points, Butler landed in the sixth spot.

 
Series History

• Butler leads: 15-14
• Butler won a 13-10 game in last season's BIG EAST Tournament.
• Butler won two of three in last season's BIG EAST series in Indianapolis.
• Butler won two of three in 2024, but Villanova won two of three in 2023.
• Butler has won six of the last 10 contests.

SCOUTING VILLANOVA (5-19, 2-1 BIG EAST)
BIG EAST series: 2-1 at DePaul

• Villanova has a pair of wins over Bucknell and another over Monmouth.
• Losses for the Wildcats include Michigan (2), Virginia Tech (2), Georgia Tech (2), Alabama (2), East Carolina (2), Charlotte, Michigan State, Virginia, Kansas, Florida Atlantic, and USI.

2026 Villanova stats* compared to (Butler)
Ave. .246, (.314), Runs 86 (113), Hits 143 (137), RBI 79 (106), SB 9 (34), ERA 6.77 (7.02)