Butler dropped a 4-2, eight-inning contest to UIC Wednesday afternoon in Indianapolis. The visiting Flames pushed across two runs in the top of the eighth, which proved to be the deciding frame.

With the non-conference result, Butler is now 11-20 on the season. UIC improves to 12-14.

The Bulldogs got on the board first with single runs in both the first and second innings. The run in the first came on a throwing error by UIC with two outs and Bri Avery on second base. The error allowed Avery to come all the way around for a 1-0 lead.

In the second inning, Claire Gilliland and Payton Longest had back-to-back, out-out singles before Avery sacrificed them over. Maddie Moore then delivered with two outs, singling through the left side to score Gilliland.

That 2-0 lead looked like enough for Butler starter Alyssa Graves for much of the afternoon. UIC was able to take advantage of a two-out fielding error by the Bulldogs in the top of the fourth to score a pair and tie the contest.

The teams traded zeros until the top of the eighth inning. UIC started the inning with a walk and a batter being hit by a pitch. Those two runners were sacrificed over for the first out of the inning. A single and a sacrifice fly by the next two Flames would give the visitors the final 4-2 lead.

Graves struck out seven Flames in 8.0 innings of work. She allowed four hits and two walks. Only the two eighth-inning runs were earned.

Butler had six hits in the contest of Flames starter Allie Trudeau.

The Bulldogs return to action this weekend as Butler is scheduled to host Villanova for a three-game, BIG EAST series in Indianapolis.