Butler's run in the 2021 BIG EAST Tournament and ultimately the 2021 season came to a close Friday with a pair of losses in the double-elimination tournament.

After a win over top-seeded DePaul Thursday afternoon, the Bulldogs advanced to Friday play. The Bulldogs dropped the opening game by a 4-1 margin to UConn, which is serving as the 2021 host. Facing elimination, the Bulldogs fell to Villanova 14-5 later in the day.

UConn and Villanova will meet Saturday with the BIG EAST title on the line.

With the pair of results, Butler concludes the 2021 season with a mark of 17-21-1.

In the opener, the host Huskies used eight hits to push across singles runs in four separate innings for a 4-1 decision.

Butler took an early 1-0 lead on a Zoe Herdman sacrifice fly in the second inning. UConn responded with runs in both the second and third frames to take a 2-1 lead before a pair of late insurance runs.

Lauren Fey had three of the Bulldogs' five hits in the contest.

Alyssa Graves gave up three runs in 4.0 innings of work, taking the loss. She struck out three. Mackenzie Griman came on in relief for the final two frames.

UConn's Payton Kinney picked up the win, pitching the final 4.2 innings while not allowing a run.

In the second game, a late surge by Villanova turned to 3-2 Butler lead after four innings into a 14-5 Wildcats win.

Butler's fourth inning included an RBI single from Fey and a two-run single from Maddie Moore as the Bulldogs built that 3-2 advantage. Villanova regained the lead in the top of the fifth on a Megan Kern two-run homerun before Herdman tied the game at 4-4 with a solo home run to right center.

That 4-4 tie was short-lived as Villanova scored five runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Villanova had 14 hits in the contest. Herdman and Alyssa Garcia each had two hits in the game for Butler.

BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year Paige Rauch picked up the win for Villanova.

The Bulldogs will return a strong nucleus next season, which will be enhanced by a talented group of newcomers.