Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. - The UIC softball team (8-10) pulled away with a 4-3 win against Monmouth (2-6) on Sunday to close out the UCF Spring Fling Tournament at the UCF Softball Complex. After the Hawks tied the game in the top of the seventh, senior Amanda Mener stepped to the plate with junior Laura Swan on second and hit a walk-off single to score the game-winning run.

"We did not play our best today, but I was happy to see us continue to work through the tough times and come away with the win," head coach Michelle Venturella said. "The team is continuing to move in the right direction, which is great to see heading into conference play."

The Flames put up eight hits against Monmouth, with Mener and senior Eleni Polites producing three each. Mener's three-hit outing was the first of her career, while Polites came up with a trio for the second time this weekend. Polites and Mener were named to the All-Tournament Team after batting .538 and .462, respectively, through their five games.

UIC scored an early run in their first round at the plate. After freshman Tiana Mack-Miller reached on a fielder's choice and Swan walked, senior Erica Hampton singled and Mack-Miller came in to score on a Monmouth error.

In the second, the Flames were able to plate two more runs. With sophomore Kaleigh Nagle and junior Dana Capocci on after a walk and bunt single, respectively, freshman Taylor Cairns walked and Nagle scored on the wild pitch. After Cairns was caught stealing second, Polites hit her first career triple to left field, allowing Capocci to come across the plate.

Monmouth brought in a run in the top of the third when Emma Hill singled into left and the runner at second rounded third to score. Another run crossed the plate in the sixth for the Hawks after they loaded the bases on two walks and a Flames error and the next batter was hit by a pitch.

In the top of the seventh, Monmouth tied the game as two runners reached on a walk and UIC error, with both advancing a base, and Katie Baron singled to bring in one.

Swan led off the bottom of the inning with a walk, the Flames' seventh free base of the game, and moved to second on a groundout from Hampton. Mener came to plate with one out and singled for the third time through the left side to bring Swan around the bases for the game-winning run.

Junior Bridget Boyle received her third start of the weekend and went three innings while striking out two and giving up two hits. Sophomore Elaine Heflin came on as relief in the top of the fourth to finish the game and picked up her first win of the season while recording two strikeouts.

With the conclusion of their tournament season, the Flames will prepare to open Horizon League competition next weekend as they host Oakland on Friday and Saturday at Flames Field.