CHICAGO - The UIC softball team brought its fall season to a close Wednesday (Oct. 8) night with a single game against Loyola at Flames Field. While they swept the Ramblers in a doubleheader on Sept. 13, the Flames could not make a comeback in the final innings as it fell 5-3.

"It was great to have the opportunity to play last night to see if we were able to transfer some things we have been practicing into the game," head coach Michelle Venturella said. "We have been working on defining roles with our offense so we can work together and be productive, and I think we saw a lot of good things in that area. We had a few miscues on defense, but I feel confident that those adjustments will continue to get better. We have a good understanding of what we need to work on during this next segment of practice and are excited to continue to get a little better each day."

"We will continue to work on the process so the outcome will take care of itself. As a staff, we are happy with the progress we have made so far this fall and are looking forward to a great spring season."

After Loyola scored two runs in the first inning following two hits and two walks, UIC brought the score within one. Junior LaRi Mitchell was walked and then stole second before advancing to third on a single by freshman Taylor Cairns. Junior Laura Swan then hit a sacrifice-fly, allowing Mitchell to score.

The Flames collected another run in the second frame to tie the game as sophomore Kaleigh Nagle hit her fourth double of the fall and came around to score on a double to left by sophomore Savannah Soppet.

UIC came up with its third run in the third inning when Mitchell singled and moved to second on a bunt by Cairns before reaching home on a base hit by Swan, who collected her second RBI of the game.

The Flames were held off the remainder of the game, while senior Erica Hampton and sophomore Alice Fitzpatrick were each walked and senior Eleni Polites recorded a base hit in the final frame.

After last scoring in the first inning, the Ramblers came back to cross home plate in the fifth, sixth and seventh to take the 5-3 win.

Junior Bridget Boyle got the start for UIC and went two innings with two strikeouts. Freshman Karissa Frazier pitched a 1-2-3, five-pitch inning in the third before redshirt-sophomore Lindsay Melson entered and pitched a one-walk fourth. Sophomore Elaine Heflin took the mound in the fifth and sixth, while Fitzpatrick closed out the game.