PEORIA, Ill. ? Sophomore Ashley Birdsong threw her sixth complete-game shutout of the season, helping Bradley to a 1-0 victory in the opener of Wednesday's doubleheader against Butler, but the Bulldogs roughed up Bradley starter Rebecca Bishop for four runs in the nightcap in a 4-2 Butler win as the two teams split the non-conference twinbill at Laura Bradley Park.

Birdsong picked up her 11th victory of the season, improving to 11-5 on the season with the win in the day's first game. She scattered six singles and struck out eight in the complete game shutout. Her six complete game shutouts this spring is the fifth best season total in school history and the most by a Bradley pitcher since Amy Elza had seven shutouts in 1996.

The only run in the game came in the bottom of the third inning. Junior Stephanie Ramsey had a one-out single to center field and scored when sophomore Miriam Wegmann followed with a double to right center field. Birdsong allowed just two hits in the final four innings of the contest as she cruised to her 17th win in her last 22 decisions.

In the nightcap, Bishop (1-3 overall) appeared to be in control retiring the first nine batters she faced and took a 1-0 lead into the fourth before Butler scored a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead.

Bradley (14-10 overall) opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Lauren Meister ended an 0-for-13 slump with a leadoff single to open the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Christine Cooney. Ramsey drove Meister in from second base with a two-out single to right field to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.

Butler (9-10 overall) scored its first runs of the day in the top of the fourth inning of game two. Leadoff hitter Lindsay Schluge started the frame with a bunt single. Amy Hyerczyk had a one-out single putting runners at first and second, before Jenny Jacobs' single allowed one run to score. A Bradley error on the play put runners on second and third with one out and Alex Boros lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Hyerczyk to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 advantage.

Bradley got one run back in the bottom half of the inning. Meister drew a one-out walk and pinch runner Anne Creighton moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Cooney tied the game at 2-2, when she ripped a run-scoring triple that almost cleared the fence in right field to score Creighton from second.

The Bulldogs would push two more runs across in the top of the sixth inning, however, to pull out the victory. Joanna Zumbrun had a one-out single up the middle and Hyerczyk followed with another single up the middle that knocked Bishop out of the game.

Birdsong entered the tie game with runners at the corners and one out and was unable to pitch the Braves out of the jam. Jenny Jacobs hit a bloop single to right field that scored Zumbrun and Alex Boros hit a double to center field that scored Hyerczyk to give Butler a 4-2 lead. Birdsong struck out Bridget Paine and got Melissa Shofroth to fly out to end the inning. Birdsong retired the Bulldogs in order in the top of the seventh to push her streak of consecutive innings without allowing an earned run to 27.

The Braves attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, but were unable to push a run across. Ramsey led off the inning with a single and Bradley had runners on first and second with no outs when Butler committed an error on a fielder's choice. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out, but Butler pitcher Jamie Wonderly (4-3) induced a pair of ground outs to hold on for the for victory.

Bradley returns to action Thursday when the Braves play a doubleheader at Illinois-Chicago at 4:30 p.m.