Oct. 3, 2011

NORMAL, Ill. - The UIC softball team compiled a 3-1 record during weekend play at the State Farm Illinois Collegiate Softball Championship at Champion Field in Maxwell Park in Normal, Ill. The squad defeated Western Illinois, 3-2, before dropping 6-2 in extra innings to Illinois State and returning to defeat Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, 5-3 and shutout Northwestern 3-0.

"It was a great tournament to be a part of," head coach Michelle Venturella says. "To finish 3-1 against a challenging field is something we can look at and know the future is bright for the upcoming season. I was happy with how our pitchers did throughout the tournament. They set the tone for our defense and they gave everything they had. We also had the opportunity to shuffle people around defensively, I thought everyone took advantage of the opportunities they were given. We are pleased to finish the fall season strong with a lot of momentum as we begin our individual workouts. This is a fun group to work with, so our staff is excited to continue to help them get better every day."

The Flames began the weekend with a victory 3-2 victory over Western Illinois. The squad placed a run on the board in the first inning, but didn't score again until the sixth inning. Melinda Macias (Chino, Calif./Don Antonio Lugo) led the inning off with a triple down the right field line then, Teresa Aguilar (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) singled to send Macias home and earn the second run of the game for the Flames. With Aguilar on first, Jacki Fletcher (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) walked, before Courtney Heeley (Glendale, Ariz./Greenway) and knocked Aguilar in to secure the third run for UIC.

Western Illinois answered in the sixth inning with three-consecutive hits to earn two points, but it wasn't enough as the Flames secured the 3-2 victory.

The Flames then played Illinois State, where UIC placed two runs on the board in each of the first two innings, but were unable to find another run in the contest. The score between the two teams remained tied 2-2 until the ninth inning, when the Redbirds earned four runs to win 6-2.

Despite a 3-0 deficit to begin the game against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (SIU-E), the Flames were able to battle back, beginning the fourth inning with a double from Jenna Marsalli (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley), followed Macias laying down a sacrifice bunt, which landed her on first base. With runners on first and second, Fletcher walked and Aguilar found an RBI single and the first run of the game for UIC.

Heading into the seventh inning, Heeley singled, which was followed up with a double from Natalie Hernandez (Glendora, Calif./Glendora). Coryn Schmit (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) walked, while Marsalli tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI single.

Aguilar and Erica Hampton (Wichita, Kan./Bishop Carroll) drew walks, and Heeley capitalized on the opportunity as she hit a double to score both runners and take a 5-3 lead. Devin Miller (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) shut out SIU-E to earn the win. In the final game of the tournament the Flames faced Chicagoland foe, Northwestern in the championship game of the Silver bracket. The score remained at 0-0 until the fourth inning when Marsalli got on base due to an error from Northwestern's shortstop. Heeley then singled, followed by Macias, who got on base with a sacrifice bunt. The bases were loaded and Aguilar knocked in the three base runners and the Flames would maintain the lead and secure a 3-0 victory.