April 7, 2014
CHICAGO - The UIC softball team (9-14) returns to Flames Field on Tuesday for an afternoon doubleheader against North Dakota (3-21). The non-conference matchup marks the second all-time meeting between the Flames and UND and is scheduled to get underway at 2:00 p.m. CT.
The Flames are coming off of a series sweep over Wright State this past weekend (March 5-6) as they defeated the Raiders 3-2 and 12-3 (5) on Saturday and 14-6 (6) on Sunday. Through the three games, five of UIC's starters hit .500 or better, with senior Natalie Hernandez leading the way with a .700 average on seven hits and two home runs while she also tallied nine RBI.
On the season, senior Jacki Fletcher continues to hold the best average at .462 (30-for-65) followed by Hernandez (.421), junior Paige Peterson (.391), sophomore Alex Wyss (.320) and senior Jenna Marsalli (.308) all hitting above .300. While Fletcher owns the best on-base percentage (.533), Hernandez has the most runs (23), hits (32), home runs (5), RBI (22) and the best slugging percentage (.737).
On the mound for the Flames, sophomore Bridget Boyle holds an ERA of 4.46 through 64.1 innings with a 5-4 record this season. Freshman Elaine Heflin (5.56 ERA) has pitched 45.1 innings and struck out 46 batters, followed by sophomore Alice Fitzpatrick (5.85 ERA), who has gone 32.1 innings in 10 appearances.
North Dakota enters into Tuesday's doubleheader in the midst of a road trip through the Midwest. UND began the trip against Northern Illinois then headed to Indiana State and will take on Bowling Green in a doubleheader on Monday before taking on UIC and closing out against Wisconsin.
North Dakota has three players hitting above .300 this season with Amanda Johnson holding a .328 average on 21 hits, three home runs and seven RBI, followed by Emily Bell (.321) and D Jantzer (.316). Bell has tallied 11 RBI, behind Kim Granata's 12, and additionally holds the best on-base percentage at .403.
Megan Hedstrom has spent the most time in the circle for UND, as she has made 12 starts in 17 appearances while pitching 56.1 innings for the team's best ERA of 8.33. Kayli VanDomelen has received the start 10 times and has gone 50.0 innings for a 8.40 ERA while she has the highest strikeout tally of 32.
The Flames have only face North Dakota one time in program history, as UIC came away with a 12-7 win against UND back on March 16, 2012, at the Hoosier Classic in Bloomington, Ind.
