Box Score April 2, 2016 Box Score
CLEVELAND - The UIC softball team (19-11, 5-1 HL) came together to score 10 runs over the course of three innings and hold Cleveland State (8-20, 1-2 HL) to a one-hit outing as the Flames run-ruled the Vikings in five innings with a 10-0 shutout victory. The Flames' 19-11 record is the best mark after 30 games since the 1999 season when they went 24-6.
"I thought our offense did a great job all weekend," said head coach Michelle Venturella. "They continued to put pressure on the defense and took advantage when the opportunity presented itself. Hef did a great job in both games she threw and the defense, for the most part, did a nice job. We have some things to work on, but it was nice to see such a strong team effort today to finish the series."
UIC put together its fourth-straight double-digit hit performance as it tallied 12 hits on the day, whereas Cleveland State became the second opponent this season to only have one hit. Seniors Laura Swan and LaRi Mitchell, junior Kaleigh Nagle and freshman Skylee James all had two hits, with Nagle (2) and Swan (1) producing home runs.
Junior Elaine Heflin threw five shutout innings to collect her 11th win, 11th complete game and second shutout of the year. She struck out six, marking the sixth time this season she has tallied at least six Ks in a game, and walked one with one hit allowed.
Nagle got the third inning started for UIC as she swung at the first pitch and took it out over the fence in straightaway center for her first home run of the season. After Mitchell and Watts hit back-to-back singles, Swan drew a walk that allowed Mitchell to score off a wild pitch. Sophomore Tiana Mack-Miller and James then hit consecutive singles while each picking up one RBI. Positioned with two outs, junior Savannah Soppet sent the ball up the middle to plate both runners and give the Flames a 6-0 lead.
In the fourth, sophomore Taylor Cairns got on with a leadoff double but was left standing on base as two outs followed before Swan came up to bat and blasted her second home run of the series out to left to give UIC the 8-0 advantage. Mack-Miller worked the count and drew a walk in her at bat before coming around the bases to score as James doubled off the fence in right center.
It was Nagle again in the fifth as she worked a 1-2 count before sending the ball out to left to mark her first-career multi-home run game and put the Flames up 10-0.
UIC will step away from Horizon League play as it prepares to host Loyola on Wednesday at Flames Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT.
