Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Feb. 27, 2016 Box Score
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The UIC softball team (6-6) secured the sweep of its opponents on day one of the SCU Invitational Friday. The Flames first picked up the 7-0 shutout victory against UConn (3-8) before they continued their dominance on offense to post an 8-3 win over Santa Clara (2-9) at the SCU Softball Field.
"I was really pleased with our performance in both games today," said head coach Michelle Venturella. "We were solid on the mound and continued to put pressure on offensively and pushed runners across, which was what we have been working on. We are seeing a lot of good things from everyone on the team from quality at-bats to good defensive plays. The challenge is to come out and perform consistently, so tomorrow will be another test."
UIC tallied a total of 21 hits with contributions from eight players, who had six multi-hit performances. Freshman Lexi Watts led all players by going 5-for-7 with four RBI as she improved her hit streak to seven games. Sophomore Tiana Mack-Miller and senior LaRi Mitchell followed with four hits apiece, while freshman Skylee James drew a team-high four walks of the Flames' 13 total on the day.
The pitching from junior Elaine Heflin, redshirt-freshman Karissa Frazier and senior Bridget Boyle was strong, as they combined to strike out 11, walk three, allow only nine hits and limit opponents to a .184 batting average.
UIC 7, UCONN 0
UIC was cliquing in all aspects of the game as it came out to hold off UConn and accumulate 10 hits, nine walks and push seven runs across the plate for the shutout victory. Eight different Flames acquired hits, with Watts and Mack-Miller having two apiece along with two RBI.
UIC scored its first run in its first round at bat after Watts walked, stole second and then rounded the bases to score on a two-out single down the right field line by Mack-Miller.
The Flames jumped ahead 6-0 in the second as they worked their counts to draw five walks in the frame. With one out, junior Kaleigh Nagle, Mitchell and sophomore Taylor Cairns loaded the bases on walks and then Watts walked in the first run. Senior Laura Swan and Mack-Miller followed with back-to-back RBI singles and then James drew her second walk of the game to bring in another run. The final tally came on a RBI single up the middle by senior Dana Capocci off a 3-2 count.
In the fourth, UConn produced its two hits of the game. With a runner at second, a single was sent to left with the runner rounding third and attempting to score, but was thrown out at the plate from Mitchell in left to Nagle at home.
The fifth brought on UIC's last run, as Mitchell led off with an infield single, advanced on a ground out, stole third and then scored on an infield single from Watts.
Heflin was solid in the circle and dealt three perfect innings before the Huskies earned their two hits. She collected her first shutout of the season while she threw her fourth complete game and picked up her fourth win. In seven innings, she struck out six and did not walk one of the 22 batters she faced.
UIC 8, SANTA CLARA 3
UIC came out from the start to put up enough runs to distance itself from Santa Clara and hold on for the win. Watts and Mitchell each came up with three-hit outings, a season-best for both, with Mack-Miller and junior Savannah Soppet also coming away with multiple hits at two apiece.
The Flames were able to bring runs across the plate in the first inning for the second straight game as they posted an early 2-0 lead. They loaded the bases after Cairns walked and then Watts and Mack-Miller went back-to-back with singles, allowing James to walk in a run and Soppet to reach on a fielder's choice that scored the other.
Another pair scored for UIC in the second to make it 4-0. Mitchell led off and made it to second off a SCU error before Watts tripled for her first career extra-base hit to allow Mitchell to score. Mack-Miller then singled for the second time to bring in Watts.
Soppet led off the third with her first double of the year and then moved to third on a ground out before Mitchell doubled as well to pick up the RBI and improve the score to 5-0.
Santa Clara threatened in the fourth and came out to score three runs after registering a double and four-consecutive singles, but the final two runners were left on base to place the score at 5-3.
The Flames answered back in the sixth with three runs of their own. Soppet produced her second double of the game in the leadoff spot then Capocci came in to pinch hit and singled to put two on with one out. Mitchell laid down the bunt single and Soppet was able to score with a SCU error on the play, moving Capocci to third. As Mitchell stole second, SCU committed another error to allow Capocci to score. The final run came in as Watts posted her third hit with an infield single.
Frazier received the start and went three complete innings as she struck out four, walked three and allowed six hits and three runs. Boyle entered with two runners on and no outs in the fourth and finished the game to pick up her second win of the season. Boyle allowed just one hit and struck out one in four innings.
The Flames are back at the SCU Softball Field on Saturday to take on Nevada at 2:15 p.m. CT and Santa Clara at 6:45 p.m.
