PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - Butler defeated Villanova 8-6 on Thursday afternoon in the Bulldogs 2026 BIG EAST opener. With the win, Butler improves to 9-20 and 1-0 in BIG EAST play while the Wildcats slide to 10-15 and 0-1 in conference action.
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BULLDOG HIGHLIGHTS

• Grayson Bradberry was solid on the mound, tossing 5.0 innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while punching out three en route to his third win of the season.
• Connor Sackett was 2-for-2 with a double and five RBIs.
• Matthew Rhoades went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
• Gavin Gilmore tallied two hits, a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs.
• David Ayers was hit by a pitch three times.
• Will White hit his first collegiate homer in the game.
• Easton Moore went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
• Alex Christie recorded a hit.
• Logan Crock earned two walks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Butler loaded the bases with one out in the first as the Wildcats found themselves in a jam early. An RBI single to right field from Sackett scored two for the Dawgs as BU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Villanova got out of the jam with a double play but Butler retired the Wildcats in order, taking the two-run advantage into the second.
• The Butler offense wasted no time in the second as White hit a leadoff solo homer, giving Butler a 3-0 lead. After an RBI single from Gilmore, BU had the bases loaded with two outs. Sackett stepped up to the dish and laced a double to left center that cleared the bases as the senior was able to advance to third on the throw. Butler's five-run inning gave the Dawgs a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second. Bradberry retired the Wildcats in order as the Butler lead stood at seven.
• Villanova got on the board in the third with a leadoff homer from Mark Giallusi. The Wildcats tacked on two more in the frame on an RBI single as Villanova trailed 7-3 heading to the fourth.
• Gilmore hit a solo home run in the fourth, marking the only run of the frame from either side as Butler took the five-run advantage into the fifth.
• The fifth and sixth frames were scoreless for both sides. Villanova retired the Butler side in order in the seventh as the Wildcats came to the plate down five. VU was able to scratch one across in the eighth, but the Butler defense stood tall, getting out of a bases-loaded jam.
• In the ninth, BU was able to put two on with two outs. The Bulldogs were unable to bring either runner home as the Dawgs took the 8-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Villanova hit a two-run home run with no outs, cutting the Butler lead to two. Villanova was able to put two on with two outs as the Dawgs clung to the two-run lead. BU was able to grab the final out, thwarting the Wildcats' comeback efforts, securing the 8-6 victory.

 
UP NEXT
Butler and Villanova will return to action tomorrow for game two of the series. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth and fans can stream the game live on ESPN+.