Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Feb. 12, 2016 Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The UIC softball team (1-1) opened its 2016 season on Friday at the FGCU Kickoff Classic and came away with split results. The Flames fell to Kent State, 10-0, in five innings before responding with a 11-7 victory against Memphis at the FGCU Softball Complex.
"It was good to get our season underway," said head coach Michelle Venturella. "It was nice to see our team rebound after a tough first game. After not hitting well in game one, it was great to have the bats come alive. We had several quality at-bats, including Jasmine's (Willis) grand slam and Tiana's (Mack-Miller) base-clearing double. Bridget (Boyle) did a great job coming in on relief, allowing only one run. It was a good team win."
After acquiring just one hit in game one, UIC responded with a total of 15 hits on the day. Freshman Jasmine Willis and sophomores Tiana Mack-Miller and Taylor Cairns led the Flames with three hits each. Willis and Mack-Miller were responsible for three of UIC's four extra base hits as they each grabbed a double and Willis used the power bat for her first-career home run and grand slam.
The Flames worked four members of their pitching staff as they put together 10 strikeouts and gave up 18 hits through the two games.
KENT STATE 10, UIC 0 (5)
Kent State put together a total of 10 runs over two innings to best UIC, 10-0, in five frames. Freshman Skylee James was the lone Flame to tally a hit, marking the first of her collegiate career, as she went 1-for-1 with one walk. Freshman Lexi Watts additionally reached on a walk and then stole her first career base.
After a blanketed three frames, Kent State put its first six runs of the game on the board in the fourth inning. A single and a walk set up back-to-back singles that scored two before one run came in on a wild pitch and another crossed the plate on a RBI single. A pair of singles brought in the final two runs of the inning to put the Golden Flashes up 6-0.
After James recorded the Flames' first and only hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth, Kent State's Maddy Grimm came up to lead off the fifth and hit a solo home run for the 7-0 advantage. Three more runs would score on a two-RBI single and off an error before UIC received its final chance but went three up, three down.
Junior Elaine Heflin earned the start and pitched four complete innings, during which time she struck out seven and walked two while she gave up seven hits. Redshirt-junior Alice Fitzpatrick entered to start the fifth frame and close it out as she allowed three hits and one walk, while she earned just one of the four runs scored.
UIC 11, MEMPHIS 7
UIC was able to muster up a nine-run fifth inning that would prove to be enough to best Memphis. Willis (3), Mack-Miller (3), Cairns (3), seniors Laura Swan (2) and LaRi Mitchell (2) and Watts (1) contributed to the Flames' 14 hits, as Willis and Mack-Miller led the pack in RBI with four apiece.
The Flames came together to grab an early 1-0 lead after the first inning. With the bases loaded on walks for Cairns and Swan along with a single by Mack-Miller, James reached on a fielder's choice to score Cairns. Memphis had a chance to respond in the bottom of the inning but an out at the plate saved a run.
The Tigers garnered the lead following their round at bat in the third on a two-out grand slam by Lindsey Strickrod to go ahead 4-1. They added another pair in the fourth on back-to-back RBI singles.
After leaving runners on in the third and fourth, UIC came out in the top of the fifth to post nine runs for the 10-6 lead. Cairns led off the inning and reached on an error that put her at second before she moved to third on a single by Swan. Mack-Miller then hit a RBI single and Soppet followed with a hit by pitch to load the bases.
After junior Kaleigh Nagle walked in a run, Willis stepped to the plate and blasted the first pitch over the fence in left field for her first career home run and grand slam to put the Flames up 7-6. UIC loaded the bases yet again off an error and singles by Watts and Cairns to allow Mack-Miller the opportunity for a three-run double off the fence in left.
The Flames added an insurance run in the sixth when Willis collected her third hit of the game with a single and came around the bases on a triple from Mitchell. Memphis threatened in the final frame as it scored with a two-out RBI single, but UIC got out of the inning on a ground out.
Redshirt-freshman Karissa Frazier started in the circle and pitched 3.2 innings with three strikeouts and five hits allowed. Senior Bridget Boyle entered and threw 3.1 innings to finish the game and earn the win after limiting the Tigers to three hits and one run.
The Flames are back at the FGCU Softball Complex on Saturday for another day of doubleheader action. First on the slate is a 2:45 p.m. CT matchup with host FGCU, followed by a 5 p.m. contest against Big Ten's Michigan State.
