Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 April 1, 2016 Box Score
CLEVELAND - It took nearly eight hours, with a rain delay added to the mix, before a doubleheader split was decided between the UIC softball team (18-11, 4-1 HL) and Cleveland State (8-19, 1-1 HL) Friday at Viking Field. The Flames came out to route the Vikings, 10-3, in game one while they were edged in eight innings by a 9-8 decision in the night cap.
UIC had some of its best plate production of the season as it tallied 31 hits on the day. Senior LaRi Mitchell was dominant with seven hits, including one double, as senior Laura Swan and freshmen Lexi Watts and Skylee James followed with four hits apiece. Swan was the run producer of the day, posting six of the team's 16 RBI.
UIC 10, CLEVELAND STATE 3 - GAME ONE
UIC posted a season-high 16 hits and put base runners on in all but one inning as it broke away from Cleveland State. Mitchell led the Flames with a career-high four hits off a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with one walk, as Watts and James followed with three hits apiece. Of the 10 runs scored, nine RBI were credited with James and Swan each earning three.
Junior Elaine Heflin picked up her 10th win of the year as she threw her 10th complete game, struck out seven, allowed only four hits and walked three. Of the three runs scored by the Vikings, she only earned one.
UIC came out to post a 4-0 lead after its round at the plate in the first inning. Mitchell led off with an infield single and advanced to third on a wild pitch and stolen base. Watts got on with a walk and then stole second before Swan reached on CSU's first error of the inning that scored Mitchell. James singled to score Watts as junior Savannah Soppet reached on a fielder's choice and Swan was safe at third on another CSU error to load the bases. A fielder's choice for senior Dana Capocci scored Swan before Soppet came in on a single by Nagle.
Cleveland State loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half of the first off two UIC errors and one single. A walk brought in its first run and back-to-back groundouts allowed two more to score.
The Flames left a total of seven runners on base over the next three innings as Mitchell, Watts, Capocci, junior Kaleigh Nagle, James and Soppet earned singles in the innings and Swan and Mitchell walked.
In the top of the fifth, UIC put together a two-out rally to score four runs off a five-hit frame. Mitchell singled and moved all the way to third on a bunt single by Watts, who moved to second on the play. Swan stepped to the plate and singled through the right side, bringing both runners in, before sophomore Tiana Mack-Miller registered a base hit to put two on. James then ripped the ball into right center for a two-run double, the first of her career.
Another two runs came across the plate for the Flames in the sixth. They loaded the bases as Nagle walked and Mitchell and Watts secured back-to-back bunt singles. Swan drew a walk to bring in the first run before Mack-Miller reached on a CSU error to score the other.
CLEVELAND STATE 9, UIC 8 (8) - GAME TWO
UIC worked back from a 5-0 deficit to go ahead 8-5 after scoring in five-consecutive innings, but ultimately could not hang on as Cleveland State rallied in the bottom of the seventh and clinched the win in the eighth. Swan, Mitchell and sophomore Taylor Cairns all had three hits, with Swan and Capocci each homering and Swan garnering a team-high three RBI.
Redshirt-freshman Karissa Frazier made her ninth start of the season and tossed 1.2 innings before senior Bridget Boyle came on in relief.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Cleveland State put together five runs after two walks and a single loaded the bases to allow a run to walk in and then Riley Ries came to the plate and hit a grand slam to left center.
UIC responded to put two runs on the board in the top of the third. Watts and Swan led off with back-to-back singles before advancing a base as Mack-Miller reached on a CSU error while attempting a sacrifice bunt. With the bases loaded, one run scored on a fielder's choice for Soppet and another off CSU's second error of the frame on a fielder's choice.
Cairns led off the fourth with her second single of the game, but two outs quickly followed before Swan came up to bat and blasted the ball over the fence in left field for her third home run of the year, narrowing the Vikings' lead to 5-4.
The Flames converted, yet again, in the fifth as Capocci took the ball to straightaway center for her second home run of the season to tie the game at 5-5.
In place with two outs and Mitchell at second after she doubled, Swan dropped a blooper single into right center to bring in Mitchell for the go-ahead run before advancing to second on the play. Mack-Miller then turned on the ball and doubled to right to allow Swan to score.
UIC continued its scoring streak into the seventh as Soppet led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Capocci and then came around to score on a single to right center by Cairns.
After being held to just one hit through the preceding four innings, Cleveland State came out in the bottom of the second and hit a single, a double and then a home run to knot the score at 8-8.
The Vikings came out in the bottom of the eighth inning and put two on with a walk and a single before a single to left allowed the game-winning run to score.
The Flames return to Viking Field on Saturday to close out the series against Cleveland State with a single game at 11 a.m. CT.
