CHICAGO - The UIC softball team (9-11, 1-1 HL) kicked off its Horizon League season on Friday by going 1-1 in a series-opening doubleheader against Oakland at DePaul's Cacciatore Stadium. The Golden Grizzlies came away with the first win, 8-5, in 11 innings before the Flames shut down OU's offense for a 9-1 (5) victory.

"It was great to come back in game two and make the necessary adjustments in all parts of our game," head coach Michelle Venturella said. "We had several people come through for us offensively, which was great to see. We were pleased with Elaine (Heflin) and Erica (Hampton), as they did a great job managing Oakland's offense."

Junior Laura Swan and senior Amanda Mener each had three hits for UIC, while senior Paige Peterson and freshman Tiana Mack-Miller combined for 10 of the team's 14 RBI. The Golden Grizzlies tabbed 14 hits to the Flames' 18 on the day.

Oakland 8, UIC 5 (11) Box Score

UIC rallied back in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score at 5-5, but Oakland produced three runs in the top of the 11th to clinch the win. The Golden Grizzlies tallied 12 hits in the contest, as the Flames came away with nine. Senior Eleni Polites was the lone batter to produce a pair, marking her fifth multi-hit game of the season.

Junior Bridget Boyle started in the circle and went 5.2 innings before sophomore Elaine Heflin finished out the game with no earned runs.

Oakland grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first inning after Jackie Kisman led off with a single and scored on a two-run homer by Sara Cupp. Kisman hit an RBI single in the second and Sarah Hartley led off the third with a solo shot to right to go up 4-0.

Two runs came across for UIC in the bottom of the third. Polites singled for the second time and then stole her second base, as Swan followed with a single up the middle with each runner advancing a base on the throw. Polites scored on a groundout play and Swan crossed the plate on a double from Peterson.

In the fifth, Hartley led off with a double and Cupp walked before advancing on a sacrifice by TJ Bindus. A sacrifice fly from Courtnee Johnson brought in Harley for the Golden Grizzlies' fifth run of the game.

The Flames stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh and brought three runs in to tie the game at 5-5. Sophomore Kaleigh Nagle reached on an Oakland error to lead off the inning and moved over to third after back-to-back singles from senior Erica Hampton and sophomore Savannah Soppet, who came in to pinch hit. Freshman Taylor Cairns then hit a sacrifice fly to score Nagle before Swan drew her second walk of the game to load the bases. Mack-Miller collected an infield single to score Hampton and Peterson was then hit by a pitch to walk in the tying run.

The win was clinched in the top of the 11th for Oakland after scoring three runs. With two on and two out, Johnson doubled to center to score one and Julia Morales came up in the next at-bat to hit a single to bring in the final two runs.

UIC 9, Oakland 1 (5) Box Score

UIC pulled away with a six-run third frame that would prove to keep the win in tact as Oakland was held without a hit until the fifth inning. Mener led the Flames by going a perfect 3-for-3, with Swan (2-for-2), Peterson (1-for-1) and Nagle (1-for-1) also hitting the 1.000 mark.

Heflin started in the circle and pitched the complete five innings, picking up her first fourth complete game of the season and second win.

In the third, UIC put six runs on the board with a four-hit performance. Cairns led off with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Polites. Swan walked and rounded the bases to score along with Cairns on a stand-up double from Mack-Miller, her sixth of the season. Nagle walked and Mener laid down her second bunt single of the game to load the bases for Peterson, who belted her first-career grand slam out to straight away center.

The Flames had their final three runs come in the following inning. With two outs in the fourth, Swan singled, Mack-Miller was hit by a pitch and Nagle singled to load the bases. Mener then singled up the middle to plate two runners. Peterson and Soppet received consecutive free bases to walk in the final tally.

After being held without a hit in four innings, Oakland came up to bat in the top of the fifth and scored its lone run off two hits. With a runner on after a hit-by-pitch, Johnson doubled down the right field line and Bindus followed with a single to grab the RBI.

The Flames return to Cacciatore Stadium on Saturday to conclude their three-game series with Oakland. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. CT.