The Butler softball team opens the 2025 season this weekend with five games over three days at DePaul’s Rosemont Dome Tournament in Rosemont, Illinois. The Bulldogs will face St. Thomas, Green Bay, Detroit Mercy, Valparaiso, and Western Illinois.
The Bulldogs finished the 2025 season with an 23-29 overall record, going 11-13 in BIG EAST play and qualifying as the sixth seed in their fourth-consecutive BIG EAST Tournament.
Bulldog Bits
- The 2024 Bulldogs rank in the top ten on several of Butler’s all-time single-season lists, including: 1st- walks (180), 2nd- RBI (198), 3rd- home runs (37), 4th- hits (383), 5th- runs (217), T6th-conference wins (11), T7th- stolen bases (63), T8th- hitting (.274).
- Ella White broke Butler’s school record for single-season RBI in 2024 with 45. She finished second in the BIG EAST. With 104 in her career, she is sixth on Butler’s all-time list for career RBI.
- Kieli Ryan threw out 15 runners attempting to steal in 2024. She led the BIG EAST and finished 12th nationally in that category.
- BIG EAST coaches ranked Butler sixth in the 2025 Preseason Poll. The Villanova Wildcats were voted preseason favorites behind six first place votes and a league-best 61 points. UConn followed with 57 points, appearing first on two ballots. St. John’s (46) ranked third, and Creighton (43), who garnered the final first-place vote, ranked fourth. Seton Hall (39) landed in the fifth spot and was followed by Butler (28).
- Butler’s 2025 schedule includes five teams that qualified for the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs will face Albany (2/28), Indiana (3/11), Dayton (3/25), and Miami (OH) (4/9) on the road and will host Villanova for a BIG EAST series Apr. 17-19.
2024 Season Butler Team Leaders (returning)
- Cate Lehner– batting ave. (.344), AB-180, H-62, SB-26
- Ella White– R-38, 2B-14, RBI-45, BB-30
- Katie Petran– W-15, ERA-3.46, CG-13, IP-174, K-91
COMPARING OPPONENTS (2024 seasons)
Butler (23-29, 11-13 BIG EAST) – season ended in BIG EAST Tournament
Outscored by opponents, 263-217, in 2024. Four of top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 4.23 ERA along with 2 shutouts. Three of four starting pitchers return.
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St. Thomas (16-34, 8-9 Summit) – Season ended after regular season.
Outscored by opponents, 318-204, in 2024. All five top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 5.85 ERA along with 2 shutouts. Entire pitching staff returns.
Green Bay (9-38, 5-19 Horizon) – Season ended after regular season.
Outscored by opponents, 302-123, in 2024. Two of top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 5.74 ERA along with 2 shutouts. Three of five pitchers return.
Detroit Mercy (6-38, 5-18 Horizon) – Season ended after regular season.
Outscored by opponents, 329-82, in 2024. All five top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 8.68 ERA along with 1 shutout. Three of six pitchers return.
Valparaiso (9-40, 3-20 The Valley) – Season ended in first round of MVC Tournament
Outscored by opponents, 312-116, in 2024. One of top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 5.76 ERA along with 0 shutouts. One of four pitchers returns.
Western Illinois (16-34, 5-22 Ohio Valley) – Season ended after regular season.
Outscored by opponents, 253-142, in 2024. Three of top-5 hitters return.
Team produced a 4.12 ERA along with 3 shutouts. Two of four pitchers return.
