An early offensive explosion led the Bulldogs to a 9-3 win over visiting Ball State Wednesday afternoon in Indianapolis. The Bulldogs put up eight runs in the first two innings and never looked back.

The win is Butler's third straight and improves the team's record to 16-21 on the year. Ball State falls to 27-15.

Butler got solo home runs from sophomore Christina Candotti and freshman Claire Gilliland. It was Candotti's first long ball of the season, and the first of Gilliland's Butler career. Those were two of Butler's 11 hits.

Gilliland and Alyssa Lach each had two hits for the Bulldogs, who saw Kaitlin Doud, Sarah Dixon and Sammy Andersen post two RBIs apiece. Butler's six-run second inning included five hits, highlighted by Andersen's two-run single.

Freshman Alyssa Graves got the start for the Bulldogs and picked up the win, going 4.2 innings and allowing two runs on three hits and six walks. Doud finished the game in the circle, allowing a single run over 2.1 innings.

Jenna Foreman swiped her 31^st stolen base of the season.

Ball State used four pitchers. Carolyn Wilmes took the loss for the Cardinals. Ball State had five hits on the afternoon.

The Bulldogs face another non-conference opponent Thursday, traveling to the Windy City for a match-up with UIC for a 4 p.m. (Central/Chicago, 5 p.m. Eastern) first pitch. The teams have a long history as former Horizon League foes. Butler returns to BIG EAST play this weekend, hosting Providence in a three-game series that begins Saturday with a doubleheader in Indianapolis.