Butler dropped its opening NCAA Tournament game to ninth-seeded Kentucky, 6-1, in Lexington, Ky. The game was completed Saturday after play was suspended Friday due to rain.

The Bulldogs will turn around and play Illinois in an elimination game later in the day Saturday, with that contest originally scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. That contest will also air on ESPN3 through the Watch ESPN App and ESPN3.com. Illinois lost, 1-0, to Utah in the first game Friday.

Kentucky (44-12) put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first Friday before play was halted in the top of the second.

Butler loaded the bases in the second inning Saturday with no outs, but Meagan Prince, who took over pitching duties for the Wildcats when play resumed, was able to navigate out of the jam.

Kentucky got a single run in the second inning on a stolen base and an error that brought Maisie Steed home. Catcher Jenny Schaper singled home a pair of Wildcats in the fifth inning and the home team added another run in the sixth.

Butler had six hits in the contest, including two by Kaitlin Doud. Doud doubled in the seventh inning and was doubled in by Alyssa Lach on the next pitch.

Kristin Gutierrez (11-13) took the loss for Butler (28-23). The senior left-hander allowed eight hits in six innings of work. Five of Kentucky's six runs were earned. She struck out six.

Prince earned the win for UK in her relief appearance. She improved to 20-5 on the season.

The Bulldogs are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.