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Box Score 2 March 5, 2016 Box Score
SAN DIEGO - The UIC softball team (11-8) came out ahead on Saturday during day two of competition at the San Diego Classic to extend its win streak to five games. The Flames first walked off with a 5-4 win in the bottom of the seventh against Portland State (5-13) and then held off San Diego State (11-6) to take the 6-4 win at the SDSU Softball Stadium.
"We did not play well in our first game, but we found a way to come and win so I'm proud of our team for that," head coach Michelle Venturella said. "We did a much better job against SDSU. Hef (Elaine Heflin) was solid on the mound and our offense did a great job of putting pressure on their defense. Regardless of the outcome, we need to continue to play the game at a high level and I was happy to see that tonight."
Senior LaRi Mitchell posted a team-best five hits on the day to help UIC with its 19 total hits, as senior Laura Swan, sophomore Taylor Cairns and freshman Lexi Watts followed with three hits each. Swan was the run-producer for the Flames as she came away with three RBI, followed by James and senior Dana Capocci with two each.
Redshirt-freshman Karissa Frazier, senior Bridget Boyle and junior Elaine Heflin combined for a 1.00 ERA on the day as they held opponents to 14 hits, four walks and a .226 batting average while they tallied six strikeouts.
UIC 5, PORTLAND STATE 4
UIC came back from being down 3-0 to tie the game and eventually walk off with the win in the bottom of the seventh. Mitchell led the Flames' offense as she posted three hits and added three stolen bases. Swan was credited with the game-winning RBI, while Capocci (2) and James also pushed in runs.
Portland State came up to load the bases in the fourth inning on a double, walk and UIC error with one out, but the Vikings hit into the next two outs to strand all the runners. It was a repeat situation in the fifth after a pair of Flames errors and a hit by pitch loaded up the bases again, but this time Portland State would convert as a walk and a two-RBI single brought in three runs for the 3-0 lead.
After leaving runners in scoring position in the first frame off singles from Mitchell and Cairns, UIC loaded the bases for the first time in the bottom of the fifth with two outs as Mitchell and Watts hit back-to-back singles and Cairns walked. Capocci came up and found the gap in right center for the two-RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.
The Vikings made an attempt to take the lead in the sixth as their leadoff hitter reached and advanced to second on UIC's fourth error of the game and moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt, but was kept on base after a pair of quick putouts.
In the bottom of the sixth, freshman Claire Crane entered to pinch hit and drew the leadoff walk before advancing on a sacrifice bunt by junior Kaleigh Nagle. Mitchell then posted her third single of the game to move Crane to third before she stole her third base of the game, but the two were left stranded on base.
Portland State was able to score the go-ahead run in the seventh when a pair of singles put runners at the corners and then a fielder's choice scored the runner on a throw at the plate.
Down one in their last chance at the plate, the Flames quickly put two runners on as Cairns singled up the middle, stole second, and Capocci walked. James swung at the first pitch and came through with a single up the middle of her own to plate Cairns from second. Swan then ripped a shot into left center that allowed Capocci to round that bases and score the game-winning run.
Frazier earned her fifth start of the year and tossed 4.1 innings with two strikeouts, one walk and four hits given up while she did not earn a single run. Boyle entered the game in the fifth with the bases loaded and finished the game to pick up her third win of the year after allowing three hits, one walk and one run.
UIC 6, SAN DIEGO STATE 4
UIC grasped an early lead against San Diego State before it established two runs in the fourth and another two in the seventh to secure the victory. Swan, Mitchell and Watts all had two hits in the game, as Swan put up two RBI that would serve as crucial insurance runs.
UIC scored a pair of runs across the first two innings to head into the third with a 2-1 lead. Mitchell and Watts came up with back-to-back bunt singles in the first and each moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Capocci. With two outs, James reached first on an infield single that allowed Mitchell to score.
In the second, Crane led off with a double for her first career extra-base hit. On an attempted sacrifice bunt from Nagle, the throw was sent to third, but went into the outfield to allow Crane to come across the plate. SDSU came within one in the bottom half of the inning as a single and UIC error put runners at second and third, with one scoring on a ground out play.
The Aztecs were able to make a two-out rally to tie it at 2-2 in the bottom of the third as they put runners at the corners and brought in the run on a RBI single.
The Flames put the score back in their favor in the top of the fourth. Swan singled to lead off the frame and Crane reached on a SDSU error before Nagle laid down the sacrifice bunt to move up the runners. A single up the middle by Cairns and a bunt single by Mitchell allowed a run to score on each play for the 4-2 lead.
After a stagnant fifth and sixth, UIC headed into the seventh and quickly put two on with Watts and Mack-Miller hitting a single and double, respectively, down the left-field line. Swan came up with two outs and dropped the ball into left to score both runners.
With two outs and a runner at third in the bottom of the seventh, San Diego State threatened as it was able to score one run on a UIC error and then another off a RBI single, but the Flames were able to get the final out to seal the game.
Heflin made her second start of the weekend and ninth of the season as she tossed her sixth complete game for her sixth win. She struck out four in the seven frames, walked two, gave up seven hits and only earned one of the four runs scored.
The Flames return to the SDSU Softball Stadium for the final day of the San Diego Classic on Sunday as they are set to face Saint Joseph's at noon CT.
