April 12, 2012

Box Score (Game One)

Box Score (Game Two)

CHICAGO - Sophomore Jenna Marsalli hit a grand slam in the top of the sixth inning of the first contest against Loyola Thursday at the Loyola Softball Park in Chicago, Ill., to lead the Flames to a 6-3 victory. The Ramblers then won the second game, 7-6, in the bottom of the eighth frame.

"It was great to win the first game, and see the offense come out and hit the ball hard," head coach Michelle Venturella said. "I was pleased to see Jenna (Marsalli) come through in such a clutch situation. I could tell the third game was going to be a fight to the end with how hard both teams were playing. Courtney (Heeley) did a great job, and Jacki (Fletcher) hit the ball well, which was good to see. We ended up giving them extra opportunities and they took advantage of them."

GAME ONE

Both teams scored initial runs in the second inning. Junior Kara Komp led off for the Flames as she singled to first base, and eventually stole second base. With Komp in scoring position, junior Teresa Aguilar hit a ground-rule double to center field to score Komp and jump out to a 1-0 lead.

Loyola answered in the bottom of the frame, and tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth inning to lead the game 2-1.

In the top of the sixth inning, senior Melinda Macias was hit by a pitch, while sophomore Natalie Hernandez was walked. Junior Coryn Schmit then reached on a fielder's choice, which resulted in Macias being out at third base. With two outs, Hernandez and Schmit both advanced on a passed ball, while Jacki Fletcher walked. Marsalli then capitalized on the opportunity as the hit a grand slam over the center field wall to give UIC a 5-2 lead.

Loyola added one more run in the bottom of the sixth, but as UIC capped off the game with one additional run in the top of the seventh inning, which resulted in a 6-3 victory over the Ramblers.

In the contest, both teams logged 10 hits. Senior Ashley Hewett began the game in the circle for UIC and in 2.2 innings of work, she posted three strikeouts. Junior Devin Miller then finished out the game, where she blanked four batters.

GAME TWO

With the series tied at a game apiece, UIC again game out with the early lead. Lead-off batter, Macias was hit by a pitch, before Hernandez doubled to center field. Then, on a wild pitch, Macias scored and Hernandez advanced to third base. The Ramblers then answered during the bottom half of the frame. Then in the top of the second inning Heeley hit a homerun to right field to give the Flames a 2-1 advantage.

From there, Loyola scored in three consecutive innings, back-to-back two-run innings in the fourth and fifth, and one run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the top of the sixth, UIC scored two runs as Fletcher led off the inning with a double to center field, before Heeley moved her to third base on a single to center. Aguilar then reached on an error to score Heeley and Fletcher. The two squads concluded the sixth inning with a tie score, 6-6.

The Ramblers then retired UIC in the bottom of the eighth inning with a 7-6 victory.

UIC returns to the field Saturday as the team faces Detroit Mercy in doubleheader Saturday in Detroit, Mich., which begins at 11:00 a.m. (CT).