April 25, 2014
CHICAGO - The UIC softball team (12-21, 6-6 HL) returns to Horizon League action with a three-game series this weekend in Green Bay, Wis., against the Phoenix (19-11, 6-4 HL). Competition kicks off at the Phoenix Softball Field with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday followed by a single game at noon on Sunday.
The Flames are back on the road after hosting their last four games, including their most recent matchup against IUPUI on Tuesday (April 22), when they lost 3-1. Kelly Kennedy scored UIC's lone run with her first career home run, while Natalie Hernandez, Courtney Heeley and Kaleigh Nagle each had one hit during the game. Alice Fitzpatrick pitched the complete game allowing five hits and three runs (one earned), striking out three and walking just one batter.
Paige Peterson (.435), Jacki Fletcher (.424) and Hernandez (.423) all own batting averages above .400 as they head into the weekend, followed by Jenna Marsalli with .344. Hernandez boasts a team-leading 31 runs, 47 hits, eight home runs, 32 RBI and a .748 slugging percentage.
On the mound for the Flames, Fitzpatrick owns a 4.01 ERA through 75.0 innings and has tied Elaine Heflin (5.56 ERA) with 46 strikeouts. Fitzpatrick has additionally pitched five complete games, behind Bridget Boyle's (4.92 ERA) seven, in 11 starts and holds a 3-8 record on the season.
Green Bay returns home after a seven-game road stint that resulted in a 3-4 record, including a 1-2 series loss to Cleveland State and a 2-0 result in a doubleheader with Detroit. UIC is 57-17 all time when facing the Phoenix and took the series, 2-1, last season.
The Phoenix's Shannon Butts (.383), Miranda Reinke (.376), Marissa Michalkiewic (.356), Allie Taylor (.347) and Hailey Mohrfeld (.330) are leading the offense this season with averages over .300. Mohrfeld holds the most runs (29) and home runs (5), while Michalkiewic has 36 hits, four homers and 29 RBI alongside Reinke's 35 hits, four home runs and .634 slugging percentage.
Four of the Phoenix's five pitchers have an ERA below 4.00, with Lauren Danner (1.29) leading Briana Cavin (1.55), Ashley Nannemann (2.19) and Heather Sanderson (3.38). Nannemann has received the most starts with 12 and holds a 6-7 record, followed by Sanderson with 10 starts, a 5-3 record and 59 strikeouts. Danner is 3-1 this season and Cavin has a perfect 5-0 record.
