CHICAGO - The UIC softball team (19-16, 10-4 HL) went 1-1 against Youngstown State (16-23, 6-8 HL) on Saturday at Flames Field to take the series, 2-1, and remain in a tie for second in the Horizon League standings. The Flames fell in five innings to the Penguins, 17-4, before they responded with a 4-0 shutout victory to close out competition.

"I thought our team did a great job of turning things around in game two," head coach Michelle Venturella said. "To come back and shut down a talented YSU team was good to see. Erica (Hampton) and Elaine (Heflin) did a great job working together. I was also happy with our offense since they continued to put pressure on the defense."

Over the course of the doubleheader, UIC produced 14 hits while every player at bat picked up at least one hit or a walk. The Flames were led on the day by Kaleigh Nagle with three, followed by Laura Swan and Tiana Mack-Miller with two apiece. Swan, along with Erica Hampton and Amanda Mener, brought in UIC's runs with two RBI each and Nagle added one tally.

Youngstown State 17, UIC 4 (5)   Box Score 

Youngstown State broke away from UIC as it scored 12 runs in the first three innings before adding five in the fifth. The Flames aided in the Penguins production as they committed four errors, while Youngstown State combined for 14 hits to UIC's six from Eleni Polites, Dana Capocci, Mack-Miller, Nagle, Swan and Hampton.

Bridget Boyle started her 14th game of the year and went all five innings in the circle, gave up 14 hits, walked five and struck out four in 161 pitches. Lindsey Melson made her third appearance of the season to start the fifth before Boyle reentered to close out the contest.

Youngstown State jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the opening two frames. The Penguins scored two in the first as UIC committed three errors. In the second, Youngstown State loaded the bases to allow one run on a fielder's choice and a three-run homer from Alexandria Gibson.

The Flames scored their first run in the bottom of the second as Paige Peterson and Swan got on with a pair of walks and Hampton came through with a line drive that brought in Peterson.

It was a six-run inning in the third for the Penguins as runs scored with the bases loaded on three singles, a double, a sacrifice fly and a walk.

UIC responded with three in the bottom half of the third. Mack-Miller and Nagle went back-to-back with singles and Peterson drew a walk to load the bases. Mener then picked up an RBI on a ground out before Swan hit a two-run single.

The last of Youngstown State's runs were scored in its last round at bat in the fifth. Two runners were walked in with the bases loaded then back-to-back RBI singles were credited, with a sacrifice fly bringing in the fifth run.

UIC 4, Youngstown State 0   Box Score 

UIC was the first to put runs on the board for the first time in the series as it held off Youngstown State for its fourth shutout of the year. The Flames tallied an eight-hit performance, with Nagle coming up with a pair, as the Penguins were held to five and left eight runners on base.

Elaine Heflin was efficient in the circle, throwing her 10th complete game, dealing her first career shutout, tying her career high with eight strikeouts and picking up her eighth win of the season.

UIC went up 2-0 in its opening round at bat as Taylor Cairns got on with a single and came in to score on a triple by Nagle, who then came across the dish on a wild pitch.

The Flames added another run in the third as Mack-Miller, who singled earlier in the inning, scored on a single by Mener.

In the fifth, UIC loaded the bases after Nagle and Swan hit consecutive singles and Mener reached on a fielder's choice with a YSU error on the play. Hampton then came up with a sacrifice fly to plate the final run of the game.

The Flames will break for a non-conference matchup on Tuesday as they head to Peoria, Ill., to face Bradley at 4 p.m. CT.