Box Score April 26, 2016 Box Score
CHICAGO - Down two runs in the seventh with two runners in scoring position, the UIC softball team (27-15) tried to make a comeback but fell short in its effort as it dropped a 2-0 decision to Northern Illinois (32-13) Tuesday night at Flames Field. It was the first loss of the season for the Flames on their home field.
Chances were held to a minimum throughout the night as UIC reached base on just seven occasions off six hits and one walk. Senior Laura Swan and freshman Skylee James led the Flames with two hits apiece, as senior LaRi Mitchell, redshirt-junior Alice Fitzpatrick and junior Kaleigh Nagle also got on base during the game.
The Flames split pitching duties between junior Elaine Heflin, senior Bridget Boyle and redshirt-freshman Karissa Frazier. Heflin earned the start and went three innings as she struck out two, walked two and gave up two hits. Boyle entered and threw two perfect frames, retiring all six batters faced. Frazier closed out the game with two strikeouts, one walk and two hits allowed.
Following a walk, a fielder's choice and single put two on for Northern Illinois with two outs before a sequence of a passed ball and wild pitch allowed a run to score for the 1-0 advantage.
After picking up just two hits in the first three innings, UIC had its best opportunity in the fourth as Swan came up with her 13th double of the year and moved up to third on a single by James, but both were left on base with the final out.
Ten-consecutive Huskies were retired before they came out in the top of the sixth and led off with a triple then a double to score their second run of the game. A walk followed to put two on with no outs, but the Flames turned a double play before the last batter was struck out.
UIC put together an attempted rally in the seventh as James and Nagle led off with back-to-back singles. Junior Savannah Soppet entered as a pinch hitter and laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, but the next two outs would follow to leave the runners on base.
The Flames are back at Flames Field this weekend for a three-game series against Wright State. Game one is set for Friday at 3 p.m. CT with a noon doubleheader Saturday, which will also serve as Senior Day.
