CHICAGO – The UIC softball team finds itself hosting Butler in a nonconference match-up before taking on Drake over the weekend to end Missouri Valley Conference play.  

SCOUTING BUTLER 

• This will be the first time since 2019 that the Flames and Bulldogs are set to compete, and the 63rd time in each other's history. The Flames lead the overall series, 45-17.  

• The two teams have split the last six meetings, 3-3.  

•  Redshirt sophomore Paige Dorsett has had a strong campaign at the plate for the Bulldogs, currently batting a team-leading .340 and tallying 28 RBI on the season.  

• Senior Mackenzie Griman has been a constant presence in the circle for Butler. In 26 appearances in the season, Griman sports an 8-14 record, having pitched 127 innings with 64 strikeouts. 

FLAMES FIELD FINALE 

• UIC's game against Butler will be the final regular season game at Flames Field.  

• It will be available to stream on ESPN+ and listen to on the Flames Network.  

• It will also be First Responders Appreciation, celebrating all those who work in public safety.  

SCOUTING DRAKE 

• UIC finishes MVC play against Drake for a three-game weekend series beginning with a 6 p.m. first pitch on Friday.  This will be the first time the two teams have played since 2020.  

• The Flames hold a lead in the series overall, 6-3. They have won two of the last three meetings.  

• Drake has had a strong stretch of games against MVC opponents, having gone 5-2 in the past seven conference games. They had a series sweep against Valparaiso and took two out of three games against Belmont.  

• Drake's Emma Dighton is ranked fifth in the MVC in RBI (37) and in triples (5). The sophomore leads the team with a .306 batting average and seven home runs in the season.  

• Senior Mackenzie Hupke has been a consistent force in the circle for the Bulldogs. She has the fourth-most strikeouts in the MVC (137) and has a team-leading 2.80 ERA.  

HOW TO FOLLOW- DRAKE 

• All three games in this weekend's series at Drake will be available to stream via ESPN+. 

• To keep up with all the action from Buel Field, fans are also encouraged to follow @UIC_Softball's Twitter account.  

FLAMES FACTS 

• The Flames have gone 5-2 in their last seven games. 

• Senior Alannah Cran holds a seven-game hitting streak dating back to Apr. 21. She has amassed 12 hits, batting .522 with three RBI.  

• Sophomore Jojo Santiago has batted .353 since the beginning of the homestand, highlighted by a three-RBI performance in the 7-6 win over Valparaiso on Apr. 25.  

• Slated as the designated player since the beginning of the homestand, sophomore Larissa Ortiz has batted .417 and leads the team in runs scored (5).