Box Score Feb. 25, 2012
Box Score - South Dakota 
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Devin Miller (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) led the UIC softball team (6-7/0-0 Horizon League) in a shutout victory over South Dakota on Saturday at Amy S. Harrison Field. Miller registered six strikeouts, with five coming in the last two innings, while the Flames put three runs on the board in the third to defeat the Coyotes 3-0.
"It was great to come out today and have everything come together," head coach Michelle Venturella said. "Devin (Miller) was sharp and had command the entire game. Our defense communicated well and made the plays. Our offense put pressure on and was smart with their at bats. We need to come out tomorrow and do the same thing."
In the first two innings, South Dakota went three up, three down thanks to defensive and pitching efforts of Miller and the Flames.
Heading into the third, UIC registered their three runs of the game. Leading off with a walk from Courtney Heeley (Glendale, Ariz./Greenway), Melinda Macias (Chino, Calif./Don Antonio Lugo) came up to bat and hit a single up the middle to advance. Melissa Preish (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Westlake) put down a bunt and was safe at first to load to bases as Coryn Schmit (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) hit a single to left and brought in the team's first run.
With bases still loaded, Jacki Fletcher (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) stepped up to the plate and hit a single up the middle to bring in Macias, going up 2-0. South Dakota then walked Jenna Marsalli (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) to advance the runners and walk in Preish for the Flames final score of the game.
South Dakota struggled to get on base, but made an attempted comeback in the sixth when Katie Dinning hit a triple to left-center at the start of the inning. Fortunately for the Flames, Miller struck out the next two batters, with the third out coming in a fly out to left field. Miller closed out the game by registering three consecutive strikeouts in the seventh, taking her strikeout total to six on the day.
The Flames wrap up competition at the aTen Construction Tournament Sunday morning at 11:30 (CT), when they face Idaho State for the second time this weekend.
