April 13, 2014

YSU 4, UIC 3

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The UIC softball team (10-18, 4-4 HL) rallied back to tie the game in the seventh inning after being down 3-1, but Youngstown State (21-17, 6-4 HL) ultimately took the series finale with a 4-3 win on Sunday at the YSU Softball Complex. Freshman Kaleigh Nagle ripped a two-run shot to tie the game with her first career home run in the top of the seventh, but the Penguins came back in the bottom of the inning to score the game-winner.

Aside from Nagle, senior Natalie Hernandez (2), junior Paige Peterson (2), senior Jacki Fletcher (1), junior Erica Hampton (1) and freshman Kelly Kennedy (1) contributed to UIC's effort of outhitting Youngstown State, 8-5.

In the first inning, Peterson had a hit for the third-consecutive game as she singled to center in her first plate appearance before stealing her third base of the weekend. Back-to-back walks for senior Jenna Marsalli and sophomore Laura Swan would put the bases loaded with two outs, but all runners were left stranded at the end of the inning.

Following a walk in the bottom of the first, the Penguins' Sarah Ingalls hit a shot over the left field fence to score the first two runs of the game.

With two out in the second, junior Eleni Polites reached on a Youngtown State error before stealing second and coming around to score on a single by Hernandez.

After the Penguins scored one in the bottom of the sixth, the Flames stepped to the plate to tie the game in the top of the seventh. Kennedy pinch hit to start the inning and singled to left before Nagle belted her first career home run out to left. Three-consecutive singles by Hernandez, Peterson and Fletcher followed, but a fielder's choice and a strikeout ended the inning.

Youngstown State managed to get two on with two out in the bottom of the seventh. A single up the middle would then score a runner, allowing Youngstown State to take the game.

Sophomore Bridget Boyle received the start for the second time this weekend and pitched a complete 6.2 innings while limiting the Penguins to five hits and retiring four batters.

The Flames will make the short trek to Cleveland, Ohio, to take on Cleveland State in a doubleheader on Monday beginning at 11 a.m. CT at Viking Field.