Box Score

	UIC 7, Youngstown State 2 YSU Softball Complex • Youngstown, Ohio Game 1 Box Score | Box Score
	Youngstown State 5, UIC 4 YSU Softball Complex • Youngstown, Ohio Game 2 Box Score | Box Score

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The UIC softball team (20-12, 6-2 HL) posted a doubleheader split Friday to open its series at Youngstown State (18-13, 5-2 HL). The Flames came away with a 7-2 win in game one before they were edged in game two by a 5-4 final.

UIC combined for 17 hits on the day as sophomore Tiana Mack-Miller put up a team-high four hits. Senior Laura Swan and juniors Kaleigh Nagle and Savannah Soppet all had three hits, with Mack-Miller (2), Swan (2) and Nagle producing doubles for the Flames. Of the runs brought in, Nagle was responsible for four, followed by Swan with two.

UIC 7, YOUNGSTOWN STATE 2 - Game One

UIC went ahead early and then broke away from Youngstown State as it scored five of its seven runs in three-consecutive innings. The Flames turned out their fifth-straight double-digit hit game on a 12-hit output, led by Nagle, Swan, sophomore Taylor Cairns and Mack-Miller with two apiece. Of the five RBI, Nagle brought in two runs.

Junior Elaine Heflin dealt her 12th complete game on her way to picking up her 12th win of the season and fourth in the Horizon League. The right-hander struck out six, walked six and held the Penguins to six hits in her 131-pitch outing.

UIC went up 2-0 after the first with a three-hit frame. With two outs, Swan and Mack-Miller singled before freshman Skylee James reached on a YSU error that brought in one. Senior Dana Capocci then hit an infield single that allowed the second run to score.

Youngstown State brought in one run in the second with a RBI double and another in the third off a bases-loaded walk to tie the score at 2-2. It would be the only runs the Penguins would score while they left a total of six base runners on in the final four innings off one hit and five walks.

In the fourth, the Flames came out to score three runs and reclaim the lead at 5-2. Capocci got on with a walk and then rounded the bases to score on a double to left center by Nagle. Cairns followed with an extra-base hit of her own on her first triple of the year, scoring Nagle. On the next play, YSU committed its second error of the game that scored the final run of the inning.

Insurance was added with one run scored for UIC in the fifth. Mack-Miller singled and James walked before Capocci reached on the fielder's choice. A single from Soppet loaded the bases and then Nagle stepped up with a single through the left side to plate the run, marking her fourth multi-hit outing in the last five games.

The final run for the Flames came in the sixth as freshman Lexi Watts singled and stole her 20th base of the season before she scored on a double to left center by Swan.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE 5, UIC 4 - Game Two

It was a back-and-forth battle for UIC and Youngstown State to take and maintain the lead, but the Penguins found the decisive game-winner in the sixth inning. The Flames were limited in their production at the plate as they collected five hits, two from Mack-Miller for her second-straight multi-hit game.

Redshirt-junior Alice Fitzpatrick received her seventh start of the season and went 3.1 innings, when she gave up six hits and four runs while she struck out three and walked one. Senior Bridget Boyle entered in the middle of the fourth and finished the game, allowing three hits and registering one strikeout while giving up the final run.

Youngstown State put together three hits in the first inning to go ahead 2-0 as a two-RBI single was the difference maker.

UIC answered right back in the top of the second as Mack-Miller led off with a double before Capocci walked and Soppet reached on catcher's interference to load the bases. Nagle continued her hot streak as she singled into right to score a pair and knot the score at 2-2.

Swan and Mack-Miller went back-to-back in the third with consecutive doubles, scoring Swan for the go-ahead run at 3-2.

The Penguins took back their lead in the fourth after hitting a pair of RBI doubles that put them up 4-3, but the Flames equalized it in the fifth after Watts walked, stole her 21st base on the year, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored as Swan reached on a YSU error.

In the bottom of the sixth, Youngstown State went up 5-4 off a sequence of a double, sacrifice bunt and single that brought in the runner for the eventual game-winning run.

The Flames return for the finale at the YSU Softball Complex on Saturday with first pitch set for 11 a.m. CT.