April 14, 2014

CSU 5, UIC 1

CLEVELAND - After a 90 minute rain delay at Viking Field on Monday, the UIC softball team (10-19, 4-5 HL) got its first game against Cleveland State (19-13, 3-3 HL) underway but suffered a 5-1 defeat before having its second game cancelled due to persistent rain. The Flames were outhit 10-4 by the Vikings, with Paige Peterson, Jacki Fletcher, Jenna Marsalli and Laura Swan each tabbing a hit.

In the first inning, Peterson continued her six-game hitting streak with a single out to right center but was out on a fielder's choice play at second.

The Vikings would get on the board in the bottom of the first on a single and a pair of doubles that scored two, but sophomore Alice Fitzpatrick struck out three in the inning to prevent any more runs.

Following a scoreless second and third, UIC produced its first run in the top of the fourth after Peterson reached on a fielding error and Marsalli and Swan singled to load the bases before Peterson came in to score on a wild pitch.

Cleveland State added three in the bottom of the fifth after back-to-back doubles and a home run by Alyson Broschk to go up 5-1 and ultimately clinch the game.

Fletcher contributed with a single for the eighth-consecutive game in the sixth but was left on base at the end of the inning.

Fitzpatrick pitched a complete 6.0 innings and struck out four while allowing 10 hits.

The Flames now return home to host Detroit in a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. CT on Friday and a single game at noon on Saturday at Flames Field.