Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 May 6, 2016 Box Score
ROCHESTER, Mich. - The UIC softball team (31-16, 17-5 HL) came out on top of Oakland (13-30, 8-13 HL) Friday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep to move into a first-place tie with Wright State in the Horizon League standings. The Flames posted a 2-0 shutout win in game one and took game two in a 3-2 final at the Oakland Softball Field.
With 31 wins on the year, it marks the first 30-plus win season for the program since 2005, when UIC ended the year with a 40-27 record.
"We had two hard-fought games today against Oakland and were fortunate to come away with the wins," said head coach Michelle Venturella. "We need to execute our game plan better tomorrow, but I was pleased with both Hef (Elaine Heflin) and Karissa (Frazier) on the mound. They both had strong performances that kept us in each game."
The Flames combined for 13 hits on the day and were led by sophomore Tiana Mack-Miller with three hits, as LaRi Mitchell and freshmen Emily Wetzel and Lexi Watts each tabbed two. Of the five runs scored, Mack-Miller and junior Kaleigh Nagle brought in two apiece, with senior Laura Swan adding one.
UIC 2, OAKLAND 0 - Game One
UIC mustered up two runs and prevented Oakland from pushing its runners across as it secured its sixth shutout of the season. Mack-Miller had two hits in the game, along with one RBI, to drive the Flames' six hits.
The Golden Grizzlies left a total of 11 runners on base, including two bases loaded situations in the fourth and sixth innings, off their seven hits and four walks.
Junior Elaine Heflin dealt her fourth complete-game shutout of the year as she struck out nine, walked four and allowed seven hits. She was also responsible for getting out of the bases-loaded jams as she struck out the remaining two batters in each inning.
UIC led it off with a run in the first as it quickly loaded the bases with a single by Mitchell, a walk for Watts and a single from Mack-Miller. Nagle then came through to reach on a fielder's choice that allowed Mitchell to score.
After putting just one runner on base in the prior four frames, the Flames came out in the sixth inning to add their final run of the game. Watts led off with a single and stole her 35th base of the year before moving up to third on an Oakland error that put Swan at first. On her second hit of the game, Mack-Miller singled up the middle to score Watts.
UIC 3, OAKLAND 2 - Game Two
UIC worked back from a 2-2 tie to score the game-winning run in the sixth inning. The Flames gathered seven hits from six players, led by Wetzel with two. Mack-Miller, Nagle and Swan were credited with the RBI, as Swan brought in the game-winning run.
Senior Bridget Boyle earned her sixth start of the year and went 2.1 innings with two strikeouts, no walks and three hits, while she earned Oakland's two runs. Redshirt-freshman Karissa Frazier entered and retired nine-straight batters as she closed out the game and collected the win with four strikeouts and just one hit allowed.
UIC produced a run in the first for the second-straight game as Mitchell led off with a walk, stole second and third to bring her steals total to 26 on the year, then scored on a single by Mack-Miller.
The Golden Grizzlies answered in the bottom half of the inning when Sarah Hartley led off with a double, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and came in on a single to right.
The 2-1 advantage went to Oakland after the third as Hartley doubled for the second time, moved up on a wild pitch and was called safe on a fielder's choice at the plate.
The Flames bounced back and tied it at 2-2. Swan hit her 14th double of the season to begin the inning before Mack-Miller walked to put two on for Nagle, who hit a single off the second baseman to allow Swan to score.
In the sixth, UIC loaded the bases on a single by Wetzel, a double by Mitchell and an infield single by Watts. Swan was then able to execute the sacrifice fly to score Wetzel for the game-winning run. The Flames attempted add to their total in the seventh after Wetzel picked up her second single, but she was caught leaving early for the final out.
UIC returns to the Oakland Softball Field on Saturday to close out the series and the regular season with a single game at 2 p.m. CT.
