Butler dropped a hard-fought, 4-3 decision to Ball State Saturday afternoon at the Northwest YMCA in Muncie.
 
The loss pushes Butler's spring record to 4-3, while Ball State improves to 4-2.
 
Butler started off the match strong, taking the doubles point with wins on the second and third courts.
 
In singles play, Butler would get wins from Nicolas Arts at No. 3 singles and Nicholas Shirley on the fifth court. 
 
Petar Petrovic was able to pull out the clinching match at No. 6 singles for Ball State, defeating Butler's Aidan William by a score of 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
 
Butler returns to action this weekend, traveling west for matches with Omaha (Saturday) and Creighton (Sunday). Sunday's match against the Bluejays is the first BIG EAST match of the season for the Bulldogs.  

Results - Ball State 4, Butler 3

Singles
1) Nathaniel Webster (BSU) def. Patrick Joss, 6-3, 6-3
2) Jacks Lancaster (BSU) def. Riccardo Baldi, 6-3, 7-5
3) Nicolas Arts (Butler) def. Sajin Smith, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
4) Mason Tran (BSU) def. Rahulniket Konakanchi, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-4
5) Nicholas Shirley (Butler) def. Drew Hayward, 0-6, 6-2, 6-3
6) Petar Petrovic (BSU) def. Aidan William, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-2

Doubles
1) Tran/Lancaster (BSU) def. Arts/Konakanchi, 6-3
2) Baldi / Arnesh Singh (Butler) def. Brady/Hayward, 6-3
3) Joss/Shirley (Butler) def. Webster/Smith, 6-3