SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The UIC softball team (4-4) split action on day two of the SCU Bronco Classic, as it was edged by San Jose State (11-3), 4-3, in eight innings before finishing off strong with a 2-1 win against Santa Clara (3-10) on Saturday. Senior Paige Peterson and junior Laura Swan led all players with three hits and a .429 average on the day.

"It was great to come back and win after battling in game one," head coach Michelle Venturella said. "We did a much better job of putting pressure on both teams with our quality at-bats. Paige was a spark for us both offensively and defensively. I thought Karissa (Frazier) and Erica (Hampton) did a nice job against Santa Clara, holding them to just one hit. Overall, it was a great team effort."

The Flames combined for a total of 15 hits, while holding their opponents to 10, including a lone tally against Santa Clara. Nine different players picked up at least one hit, with sophomore Savannah Soppet and junior LaRi Mitchell adding to the multi-hit effort of Peterson and Swan.

SJSU 4, UIC 3 (8) Box Score

The Flames fell in extras to the Spartans after taking a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth. Each team produced nine hits, with leadoff hitters Swan, Peterson and Mitchell nabbing two apiece. UIC additionally had four doubles in the game.

SJSU scored its first run in the first after loading the bases to allow Alyssa Martinez to hit a sacrifice fly. The Spartans added another an inning later when Jessie Hufstetler singled with runners on the corners to score one.

In the third, the Flames brought the score to 2-1. Peterson singled and Swan reached on an error that advanced each runner an extra base. Senior Erica Hampton walked and Soppet hit an RBI single to left field. SJSU tried to strike again in the bottom of the frame, but UIC got out of a bases loaded situation with a double play on a 5-2-3 putout.

The Flames tied the game and then took the lead in the sixth. With two outs and no one on, Mitchell singled before rounding the bases and scoring on a double from Peterson. Peterson then moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a double from Swan.

In the bottom of the seventh, SJSU tied the score at 3-3 after loading the bases on a pair of walks and a single and receiving a free base to walk in the run.

With the tiebreaker in place, Nagle started off the eighth at second and moved to third on a sacrifice hit by senior Eleni Polites before being left on. The Spartans led off with a single and then an intentional walk to Hufstetler loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but Sharon-Renae Estrada was hit by a pitch to walk in the game-winning run.

The Flames left a combination of 11 runners in scoring position, including a bases loaded opportunity in the first frame, while SJSU stranded 16.

Sophomore Elaine Heflin pitched the complete game, gave up nine hits and nine walks, struck out two and registered three earned runs.

UIC 2, Santa Clara 1 Box Score

UIC worked out of a 1-0 deficit by scoring one run in the fourth and one in the fifth, while holding Santa Clara at bay with just one hit in the entire seven innings. The Flames had six hits in the game, with Peterson and Soppet each collecting one hit and one RBI.

The Broncos scored their lone run in the first inning. With two outs and runners at second and third, Gianetta France reached on a UIC error allowing the runner at third to score.

UIC had a hit from Hampton in the second and freshman Taylor Cairns in the third, but it was not until the fourth that the Flames produced their first run to tie the game. Swan led off the inning with a single and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Tiana Mack-Miller. A groundout moved Swan to third before Soppet singled down the left-field line allowing her to score.

The game-winning run came in the fifth after junior Dana Capocci led off with a double down the left-field line, bringing in Polites to pinch run. Peterson then singled to center and Polites rounded the bases to score.

The Broncos were forced into three up, three down innings in the fourth and fifth, and only had runners reach in the sixth and seventh due to walks.

Freshman Karissa Frazier picked up her third win of the season after pitching the complete game, allowing one hit, walking three and striking out five with no earned runs.

The Flames will close out the SCU Bronco Classic on Sunday with an 11 a.m. CT game set against Idaho State at the SCU Softball Field.