Box Score Feb. 14, 2016 Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The UIC softball team (2-3) came out victorious in its final game of the FGCU Kickoff Classic on Sunday with a 5-1 win over Middle Tennessee at the FGCU Softball Complex. The Flames were clicking and converted their runs in the third, fourth and seventh frames.
UIC combined for seven hits and was led by freshman Emily Wetzel and sophomore Taylor Cairns with two hits apiece. Sophomore Tiana Mack-Miller, freshman Skylee James and senior LaRi Mitchell additionally adds hits in the game, with Mack-Miller (2), Wetzel (1) and Cairns (1) earning credit for RBI. Cairns also had two stolen bases against the Blue Raiders.
The Flames were the first on the board when they scored two runs in the third. Freshman Jasmine Willis reached on an error to lead off the inning and advanced on a sac bunt by Wetzel before rounding the bases to score as Mitchell singled and MT committed an error. It was then Mitchell's turn as she stole second, advanced to third on an illegal pitch and scored on a RBI single by Cairns.
Middle Tennessee tried to respond in the bottom of the inning with a pair in scoring position, but back-to-back strikeouts held it off.
UIC put up another run in the fourth after James walked and senior Dana Capocci drew a walk on a pinch hit to allow Wetzel to execute her first collegiate hit with a gapper in right center, scoring James. The Blue Raiders answered with a run of their own in the bottom half on a RBI single with two on base, while they had another chance with two left on in the sixth.
A pair of insurance runs came in for the Flames in the final frame. Wetzel and Cairns singled before senior Laura Swan walked to load the bases. Mack-Miller then stepped to the plate with two outs and singled to center to score two for the 5-1 lead.
Redshirt-junior Alice Fitzpatrick started in the circle and went 3.1 innings while striking out six and giving up zero walks. Junior Elaine Heflin came in to pitch 3.2 innings, strike out four, limit two hits and collect her first win of the season.
UIC returns to action on Friday when it co-hosts the third annual Total Control Sports Invitational alongside Loyola in Rosemont, Ill., at the Dome at Rosemont. The Flames are slated to go up against Iowa, Lipscomb, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana State and Western Illinois during the three-day tournament.
