Box Score March 24, 2012
Game One Box Score 
Game Two Box Score
CHICAGO - The UIC softball team split its Horizon League opening doubleheader versus Cleveland State at Flames Field Saturday, capping off the day with a convincing 8-1 win in game two, on the heels of three home runs.
With the split, UIC moved to 13-14 on the season (1-1 Horizon), while Cleveland State enters Sunday's rubber game with an 8-20 (1-1 HL) mark.
"I was pleased that the offense came through in game two," said head coach Michelle Venturella. "We had several opportunities offensively in game one, but needed that timely hit. Devin (Miller) and Ashley (Hewett) did a nice job on the mound, which was great to see. I want to see us continue to make adjustments and play solid on both sides of the ball."
GAME ONE RECAP
The Vikings claimed a 3-1 win in game one, getting solid pitching from Sarah Shields, who held the Flames to just one earned run despite scattering eight hits in seven innings of work. UIC hurler Devin Miller went the distance in the circle, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out eight.
CSU plated one run in the second inning, followed by two tallies in the sixth. Dara Toman led off the second frame with a solo homer to right field, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead. The ensuing three innings were scoreless, before Cleveland State manufactured a pair of unearned runs to extend its lead to 3-0.
Afton Allred led off the inning with a single to center field, and was temporarily replaced in the order by pinch runner Jasmin Filiaggi. Alicia Nichols then reached first base after an error by Miller, advancing Filiaggi to second. Shields helped her own cause two batters later, singling down the right field line to load the bases. After Toman flied out to Melissa Preish in center field for the second out of the inning, CSU's Andrea Nagy singled to centerfield, scoring both Nichols and Filiaggi. Miller forced Hannah Yoe into an infield groundout two batters later, ending the rally.
UIC loaded the bases in the sixth inning, but was unable to slice into the Vikings' lead. After a pair of infield foul outs to begin the inning, the Flames collected three-straight base runners, with Jenna Marsalli and Teresa Aguilar both drawing walks, and Natalie Hernandez tallying a single to shallow right field. Courtney Heely grounded out to second base to end the threat.
The Flames again threatened in the bottom half of the seventh, scoring one run on two hits. After Melinda Macias grounded out to Shields to begin the inning, Preish followed with a walk. Coryn Schmit and Jacki Fletcher followed with consecutive singles, with the latter scoring Preish from second base. Ashley Hewett then reached on a fielder's choice, but Fletcher was thrown out at home on a pickoff that began along the third base line. Marsalli flied to out right field to end the game.
Shields tallied the win in the circle, while Miller was charged with the loss.
GAME TWO RECAP
UIC's offense exploded in game two, with three runs in the second inning, two in the third, two in the fourth and one in the sixth frame. The early lead was bolstered by the long ball, with the Flames hitting three home runs in the opening three innings.
Fletcher tallied an infield single to begin the second inning, followed by back-to-back homers by Hewett and Marsalli. In the third stanza, the Flames forced starting pitcher Megan Bashak out of the game after recording two hits in the first three at-bats. Preish tallied a one-out single to centerfield, followed by a home run to deep center field by Schmit. Kelsi Reed then took over in the circle, allowing two base runners, but preventing any other damage on the scoreboard.
Hernandez started another rally in the fourth inning, reaching first on an error by Yoe, who was playing third base. The next two batters were retired in order, before Preish, Schmit and Fletcher followed with three-consecutive walks. Fletcher's free pass walked home a run for UIC, as Hernandez scored the unearned tally. Hewett then reached on an infield error, scoring Preish from third base, as the Flames took a commanding 5-0 lead heading into the top of the fifth.
CSU's lone run in game two came in the top of the fifth, after Bashak doubled to left field with two outs. She advanced to third on a wild pitch by Hewett, and eventually scored on a passed ball. Hewett struck out Nagy to end the inning.
The Flames added another insurance run in the sixth inning, after seeing four-straight batters reach base. Fletcher singled to left center with one out, followed by a walk by Hewett, and a single from Marsalli that scored Fletcher. Aguilar then reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Marsalli to third, but was thrown out in a 5-2 putout.
Hewett picked up her fourth win of the season, while Bashak was handed the loss - she surrendered five earned runs.
UIC will look to claim the series win Sunday, when the Flames and Vikings wrap up the three-game set beginning at Noon at Flames Field. The single game can be heard live as a web stream on UICFlames.com.
