Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 April 12, 2016 Box Score
CHICAGO - The UIC softball team (22-12, 8-2 HL) found runs during crucial times in its doubleheader against Valparaiso (8-23, 3-6 HL) on Tuesday at Flames Field. The Flames took game one, 3-1, with the assistance of a three-run homer by sophomore Taylor Cairns and then came back in game two to edge by the Crusaders, 4-2.
"I was pleased with our persistence in making adjustments offensively," said head coach Michelle Venturella. "It was great for Taylor (Cairns) to come through with the timely hit, but I give Savannah (Soppet) and Kaleigh (Nagle) a lot of credit for their at-bats to set that situation up. Skylee (James) did a nice job coming through in game two. Our team continues to fight, which is great to see. Tomorrow will be another challenge that we need to meet."
UIC was limited in its hit total with a combined 13 tallies on the day, while it worked the at-bats to draw a total of 10 walks. Every Flame to receive an at-bat reached base, as junior Savannah Soppet and senior Laura Swan led all players with two hits and two walks apiece. Of the runs scored, it was Cairns (3) and freshman Skylee James (2) to earn the tallies as they also each contributed two hits.
A notable day also came for freshman Lexi Watts as she stole five base to bring her season total to 26, matching the program record set by Carly DeMarco in 2010 for steals in a single season.
The pitching staff came through in both games as it posted a 1.00 ERA with 18 strikeouts, 10 hits allowed and seven walks. Junior Elaine Heflin led the way, going 1-0 with one save, her first this season and sixth of her career, as she struck out 13.
UIC 3, VALPARAISO 1 - Game One
A three-run home run by Cairns, who saw 28 pitches across three at-bats, was the difference maker in the bottom of the sixth as UIC held off Valparaiso in the final frame for the 3-1 win. The Flames were kept to seven hits, with contributions from six different players, as they drew a total of five walks. They also had four stolen bases in the game, with three from Watts to mark a career high.
Heflin threw her 13th complete game and picked up her 13th win as she improved to 5-0 in the Horizon League. She struck out two batters in each of the first four innings before ending the game with a total of 10 Ks for her third double-digit strikeout total this season. She additionally allowed only four hits and walked three.
After leaving one on in each of the first two frames, UIC came out in the third to load the bases off a walk for senior LaRi Mitchell, infield single for Watts and another walk for Swan with one out, but all would remain.
Valparaiso came out in the fourth to score its lone run and go ahead 1-0 after being held off base in the three innings prior. With one out, a UIC error positioned a runner at second before advancing to third on a wild pitch. The Crusaders first hit of the game would follow with a single up the middle to score the runner.
The Flames left another pair on in the fourth, after Soppet walked and junior Kaleigh Nagle reached off a Valpo error on her sacrifice bunt attempt, and one in the fifth as Swan hit her ninth double of the season.
Valparaiso threatened to add to its total in the top of the sixth as it loaded the bases on a single and two walks but left all runners on base.
In the bottom half of the inning, UIC would score all the runs it needed. The Flames pushed runners into scoring position as Soppet dropped a single into right and moved to third on a one-out double by Nagle. Following a 16-pitch at-bat in the fourth, Cairns came up to the plate and sent her first-career home run over the wall in right to clinch the 3-1 win.
UIC 4, VALPARAISO 2 - Game Two
After plating all of its runs in the first three innings, UIC hung on to narrowly defeat Valparaiso. James was the lone player to have more than one hit with two and earned credit for the lone RBI (2) as the Flames' other runs were scored off a Valpo error and wild pitch.
Redshirt-freshman Karissa Frazier earned her 10th start of the season and went three innings as she struck out three, walked three and allowed a mere two hits. Redshirt-junior Alice Fitzpatrick entered and pitched 2.1 innings with two strikeouts, one walk and three hits as she earned her second win of the season. Heflin came in with two on and one out in the top of the sixth to finish the game with three strikeouts, one hit and one earned run as she garnered the save.
UIC picked up the 1-0 lead after the first inning as Watts reached on a walk then stole second and third before scoring on a Valpo error. The Flames would load the bases with two outs but strand the runners.
Valparaiso equalized the score at 1-1 in the third after the leadoff batter walked, advanced to third off a wild pitch and fly out, then scored on a single through the right side.
UIC answered right back as Swan and sophomore Tiana Mack-Miller led off in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles and came around to score on a stand-up double by James, who later crossed the plate on her own off a wild pitch for the 4-1 advantage.
The Crusaders left on three combined in the fifth and sixth with two hits and one walk before they came out in the top of the seventh to inch their way closer to the Flames. A hit by pitch, stolen base and UIC fielding error put runners at the corners with no outs and a single up the middle scored one. However, the two runners would be left standing after three outs followed.
UIC and Valparaiso will meet back at Flames Field on Wednesday night to conclude their series with a 5 p.m. CT first pitch.
