Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 April 29, 2016 Box Score
CHICAGO - The UIC softball team (28-16, 14-5 HL) split the opening-day doubleheader in its pivotal series with Wright State (33-19, 16-4 HL) Friday at Flames Field. After falling in game one, 5-1, the Flames came back to oust the Raiders, 6-4, in game two. The win marked the 28th on the year, the most in a single season under the direction of head coach Michelle Venturella.
Through the two games, UIC was limited to nine hits with two each from sophomore Tiana Mack-Miller, freshman Lexi Watts and senior LaRi Mitchell, as it collectively drew six walks.
WRIGHT STATE 5, UIC 1 - Game One
It was the long ball that plagued UIC as Wright State tallied four runs with two homers and went on to take the 5-1 win. The Flames ended their scoring drought due to hits from Mitchell and Watts, as Mack-Miller added to the team's three hits with a single.
Junior Elaine Heflin dealt her 20th complete game of the season while she took the loss. She tabbed four strikeouts, three walks and allowed nine hits.
Wright State went ahead 1-0 after the first inning as Vivi Marquez took a solo home run out to the opposite field in right. After producing two hits and two walks in the next three frames, the Raiders turned out a four-hit inning in the fifth that included a three-run homer by Becka Peterson with two outs to go up 4-0.
UIC was held off base in three of the first five innings while it left three on over the other two frames. The Flames came out in the sixth and Mitchell led off with her sixth triple of the season before crossing the plate on a single up the middle by Watts. Watts stole her 32nd base of the year, but was held at second.
In the seventh, Wright State added one run to its total as a walk and single put runners at first and second to allow one to score on a double to left by Macey Gunther.
UIC 6, WRIGHT STATE 4 - Game Two
After being positioned in a 2-2 tie, UIC pulled together to score four runs and break ahead of Wright State to clinch the 6-4 win. The Flames converted off of four Wright State miscues and gathered six hits from six different players.
Senior Bridget Boyle excelled in the circle as she threw her first complete game of the season on her way to her fifth victory. She struck out four, walked three and allowed seven hits in her 110-pitch outing.
UIC was able to post two runs in the first inning for the 2-0 advantage. Watts reached on a Wright State error then stole second for her 33rd of the season before senior Laura Swan drew a walk. Mack-Miller reached on a fielder's choice that the Raiders committed an error on, allowing Watts to come across the plate. A fielder's choice on the next play for freshman Skylee James scored Swan for the second run.
With two outs in the third, Wright State brought the score within one as a triple and a walk set up the runner to score on a single by Peterson into right.
The Raiders then tied it at 2-2 in the fifth as the leadoff batter singled, advanced two bases on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, the Flames loaded the bases for the first time on the day off a hit by pitch for sophomore Taylor Cairns, bunt single for Watts and walk for Swan. Back-to-back singles were then recorded by Mack-Miller and James to score a total of three runs before junior Kaleigh Nagle converted a sacrifice fly to add the final run for the 6-2 lead.
Wright State produced a run in the sixth as a walk and a single put two on before runners moved up on a wild pitch and one scored on a passed ball. The Raiders threatened again in the seventh as they picked up a RBI single with two outs, but left one runner on base.
UIC returns to Flames Field on Saturday to close out the series with the finale at 11 a.m. CT. Prior to the game, the Flames will honor its seniors Bridget Boyle, Dana Capocci, LaRi Mitchell and Laura Swan in a Senior Day ceremony.
