The Bulldogs dropped both ends of a Saturday doubleheader to league-leading DePaul.

The visiting Blue Demons took a 2-0 decision in the first game and followed that with a 5-1 win in the back half of the day.

Prior to Saturday's games, Butler's seniors were recognized. The group includes the program's four graduate students who each took advantage of the additional season of eligibility provided by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic – Christina Candotti, Madi Christiansen, Alyssa Garcia, and Payton Longest. Also being recognized will be Claire Gilliland. The senior has been limited to five appearances this season due to injury. Seniors Alyssa Graves and Maddie Moore plan to utilize the additional season of eligibility for the 2022 campaign.

With the results, DePaul is now 21-9 on the season and 12-1 in BIG EAST play. Butler falls to 16-18-1 and 6-10-1 in conference games.

DePaul took the second game thanks to a four-run seventh inning that moved a 1-1 tie into a 5-1 win. In that frame, the Blue Demons loaded the bases with no outs and were able to convert those into runs. Three of the team's six hits came in the seventh, in addition to two walks.

Butler took an early 1-0 lead on Mackenzie Griman's RBI single in the bottom of the first. Griman went 3-for-3 at the plate in the second game. Butler had eight hits in the game. Lauren Fey joined Griman in posted a 3-for-3 game.

Natalie Halvorson got the win for the Blue Demons, allowing a single run in her complete game. She struck out seven and did not surrender a walk.

Graves got the start for Butler before giving way to Griman. Including her time re-entering the game, Graves pitched 5.2 innings and allowed only a single run. Griman took the loss.

In the opening game, DePaul used timely hitting and a strong performance in the circle from starter Krista Dargarn to take a 2-0 win.

The two teams combined for only six hits. Two of those hits belonged to DePaul first baseman Brooke Johnson – an RBI single in the fourth and a solo home run in the seventh.

Karli Ricketts was the hard-luck loser in the contest, striking out seven in her complete game effort. She retired the first 10 batters before a walk to Kate Polucha resulted in Johnson's RBI single.

Dargarn did not walk a batter in improving to 11-2 on the season.

The teams will play a third and final game of the series Sunday. The noon first pitch will also be streamed on the Butler Athletics YouTube page.