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Box Score 2 March 26, 2016 Box Score
CHICAGO - The UIC softball team (17-10, 3-0 HL) put forth a strong defensive effort behind solid pitching on Saturday to sweep the Horizon League-opening series against Detroit (6-24, 0-3 HL) with 5-1 and 8-1 wins in doubleheader action at Flames Field.
"I was really pleased with our pitchers in both games today and our defense did a really nice job," head coach Michelle Venturella said. "Offensively, we scored in multiple innings and kept the pressure on. It was great to see the team play well together and play solid all the way around."
Redshirt-junior Alice Fitzpatrick and redshirt-freshman Karissa Frazier took turns to throw their first complete games of the season. The pair each struck out five batters and held the Titans to seven hits through the two games.
On offense, the Flames combined for 20 hits and had six extra-base tallies off home runs from freshman Skylee James (2) and senior Laura Swan (1) and doubles from junior Kaleigh Nagle (2) and senior Dana Capocci (1). Capocci, Nagle, Swan and junior Savannah Soppet all had three hits apiece as freshman Lexi Watts picked up four of UIC's eight walks. In all, 10 of the Flames' 11 batters reached base at least once on the day.
UIC 5, DETROIT 1 - GAME 1
UIC used timely hitting to jump ahead on Detroit and maintain its lead throughout the game. Swan and Soppet led the Flames with two hits apiece off a team total of eight, as Swan collected a team-high three RBI.
After hitting into a pair of double plays in the first two frames, UIC came out in the third to produce two runs for the 2-0 lead. The Flames loaded the bases as Soppet was hit by a pitch to lead off then sophomore Taylor Cairns singled and Watts walked. With two outs, Swan hit off a 2-2 count with a single up the middle to plate both runs.
UIC added another run to its total in the fifth after senior LaRi Mitchell hit an infield single, stole her 13th base of the year, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Swan's second single of the game for her third RBI.
Detroit put its run on the board in the sixth after getting two on with an infield single and UIC error before the runners advanced and one scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Flames produced two more runs in their round at the plate in the bottom half of the inning after James led off with a walk and scored as Capocci ripped her first double of the season down the left-field line. Soppet followed with a single and Cairns was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Watts drew a two-out walk to bring in the final run.
Fitzpatrick dealt her first complete game of the season en route to her first win. She struck out five and did not earn a run as she held the Titans to just two hits and two walks after throwing 100 pitches.
UIC 8, DETROIT 1 - GAME 2
UIC was working on all cylinders in game two as it shut down Detroit and scattered its eight runs across four innings. The Flames posted their seventh double-digit hit total of the season with 12 tallies and were led by Nagle with a three-hit outing. James was also a highlight for UIC as she tallied her first-career multi-home run game, with Swan also getting in on the home run total.
The first set of runs for the Flames came in the bottom of the second. Soppet reached on a Detroit error and moved to second on a single to left from Nagle before she scored on a single by Cairns. Watts and Swan then received back-to-back walks, with Swan earning the RBI.
Another two runs were scored in the third as James blasted her fourth home run of the season to straightaway center and Nagle came up with her first extra-base hit of the year on a double that scored Capocci, who singled.
UIC secured its fate after a three-run fifth. James led off the frame with another long ball, this one to left to mark UIC's first multi-home run game since last season against Bradley (04/21/15). Capocci collected a single up the middle before she was out on the fielder's choice to put Soppet on base. Nagle then dropped her third hit and second double of the game into right before Mitchell hit an infield single that scored Soppet. With runners at the corners, Mitchell and Nagle turned the double steal to bring in another run.
A total of three runners were left on base before Detroit put a run on the board in the sixth after placing two on with a pair of singles, advancing on a wild pitch and scoring one on an infield single.
The Flames came right back in the bottom of the inning as Swan stepped to the plate and took her third pitch over the wall in left for her second home run of the year.
The defense was a strong proponent as the Titans hit into 13 ground outs in addition to three fly outs. In Detroit's last effort, it left the bases loaded off two walks and a hit by pitch as UIC turned the final outs.
Frazier picked up her fourth win of the year in her first complete game as she struck out five, walked three and allowed five hits in her season-high 113 pitch performance.
The Flames will continue Horizon League play next weekend when they heads to Cleveland, Ohio, to face Cleveland State in a three-game set. Game one is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Friday with a doubleheader to follow on Saturday at 11 a.m.
