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INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI softball team had a pair of opportunities to strike late, but the Jaguars couldn’t capitalize and they dropped a 4-0 decision to crosstown rival Butler Thursday afternoon at the Butler Softball Field.

The loss dropped the Jags overall record to 11-26, while the Bulldogs upped their record to 15-23.

Nikki Thomas pitched well for the Jaguars striking out nine in six innings of work, but Leah Bry went all seven innings striking out seven to earn the victory.

Butler took the early lead scoring two runs on two hits and one IUPUI error in the second, but the Jags had a chance to cut into that lead in the next half inning.

Lindsey Richards led off the frame with a double off the left field wall and proceeded to third base on a sacrifice bunt from Thomas. However, during the next at-bat, Nicole Checkie lifted a fly ball to shallow right field and Richards tagged up from third attempting to score. Richards was tagged out on a pinpoint throw from right fielder Jessica Huey ending the threat.

After Butler tacked on another run in the fourth to increase its lead to 3-0, the Jaguars put two runners on in both the fifth and the sixth innings as they attempted to climb back in the game. Unfortunately, in both occasions, strike outs ended the innings keeping the Bulldogs in front by three.

In the sixth, Butler tacked on an insurance run to move its lead to 4-0 and it followed that by retiring IUPUI in order in the seventh to close out the 4-0 win.

Richards led the Jags with a pair of base knocks.

IUPUI returns to Summit League play this weekend when it heads to Kansas City, Mo., to take on UMKC beginning with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 14. The series will conclude on Sunday, April 15 as the teams square off at 1 p.m.