Feb. 17, 2012

Box Score - Villanova

Box Score - FIU

MIAMI - The UIC softball team (3-4) split decisions in the first day of the Blue & Gold Felsburg Memorial as the team defeated Villanova, 10-7, before dropping to host team, FIU, 5-4 at the FIU Softball Complex in Miami, Fla.

"I thought Devin (Miller) threw a really solid game against Villanova for us," head coach Michelle Venturella said. "Any time the pitching is strong, it's going to give us a chance to win. We had a number of different people come through at different times, both offensively and defensively. Then, tonight's game against FIU was a battle. They're a strong team, and I was happy to see our team come through in some difficult situations, whether it was Courtney (Heeley) and Melinda (Macias) with outstanding defensive plays, or Teresa (Aguilar) and Courtney (Heeley) hitting well. Then, Ashley (Hewett) coming through with her first homerun, and Kara (Komp) with excellent base running. Erica (Hampton) stepping into the shortstop position after only practicing there a couple times this season. I love the fight of this team, and we will continue to battle."

GAME ONE

The Flames pushed out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as juniors Melissa Preish (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Westlake) and Coryn Schmit (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) scored the first two runs of the contest. Preish reached base on a bunt, before Schmit hit a double to left center field to score Preish and earn an RBI. Villanova then committed two illegal pitches, which led to Schmit scoring the second Flames run of the game.

UIC continued its scoring streak in the second inning as junior Courtney Heeley (Glendale, Ariz./Greenway) knocked in freshman Erica Hampton (Wichita, Kan./Bishop Carroll) off of a double to left field. Junior Kara Komp (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) then reached base on a fielder's choice, before junior Teresa Aguilar (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) scored the second run of the inning. Komp extended the Flames lead to 5-0 as she scored on an illegal pitch.

The Wildcats answered in the third inning, scoring three runs to close the gap to 5-3 heading into the fourth inning, before UIC placed three more runs on the board in the fourth inning as Heeley, Komp and sophomore Jacki Fletcher (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) scored in the frame.

The Flames would find two more runs in the contest in the fifth inning, before Villanova placed four runs on the board in the seventh inning, but the effort wasn't enough as UIC held off the Wildcats to 10-7 victory.

GAME TWO

UIC and FIU remained scoreless through three innings until the Panthers posted a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, a lead the team held onto until the top of the sixth when the Flames scored two runs. Heeley walked, then advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt that senior Melinda Macias (Chino, Calif./Don Antonio Lugo) laid down. With Heeley on second base, Schmit hit a homerun over the right center field wall to give UIC a 2-1 lead, and to post her third homerun of the season.

Hewett earned her first homerun of the season in the top of the seventh inning to gain a 3-1 lead. The Panthers answered in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 3-3 to take the contest into extra innings, while utilizing the international tie-breaker rule.

Komp began on second base, and Preish, with a base hit knocked Komp in to grab a 4-3 lead, but the FIU squad knocked in a two-run homerun to retire the game in a 5-4 decision.

The Flames continue play at the Blue and Gold Felsburg Memorial Saturday as the squad faces Jacksonville at 8:00 a.m. (CT) and South Carolina at 2:00. Live stats can be access through the UIC schedule page by clicking the "Live Stats" link on the right side of the page. Also, follow the team on Twitter (UICSoftball) for in-game updates.