ROSEMONT, Ill. – For the first time since 1996, the UIC softball team (2-0) turned out back-to-back shutouts to open the 2017 season as it defeated IUPUI, 2-0, and went on to outlast Miami (Ohio), 8-0, in six innings on the first day of the Total Control Sports Invitational at the Dome.
 
The Flames had a successful day at the plate as they outhit their opponents 16-5. Lexi Watts led the team with four hits, including one double and one triple, as Taylor Cairns followed with three hits and a team-best three RBI. Also added to the six extra-base efforts was Claire Crane with a pair of doubles and Kayla Wedl with two triples.
 
UIC returns to the Dome on Saturday for day two of the TCSI as it will face Fort Wayne at 9 a.m. CT and Western Illinois at 11:30 a.m.
 
UIC 2, IUPUI 0
 
UIC came out to post its first season-opening shutout since 2000 as it used a pair of late runs to clinch the win. The Flames outhit the Jaguars, 7-3, as Cairns and Watts had two hits apiece, with Cairns also picking up the lone RBI in the game.
 
Elaine Heflin threw the complete game to secure the shutout as she racked up 10 strikeouts, just one shy of her career mark set last season against Detroit.
 
The first hit of the game did not come until the third inning, when Crane ripped a double down the left field line. With two outs, Watts laid down a bunt single and took second on the play to put a pair of runners in scoring position, but both were left on at the end of the frame.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Watts sent a shot into left and put on the wheels as she made it all the way to third after the ball took an off bounce. She was then able to put UIC up 1-0 when IUPUI committed an error on a routine fly from Jasmine Willis.
 
The Flames added to their total in the following inning as Wedl led off with a triple to center and then came in to score on a squeeze play as Cairns laid down a bunt single. Savannah Soppet followed with a single up the middle but two runners remained.
 
IUPUI threatened in the top of the seventh as it hit back-to-back singles, but the next three batters were retired with two coming as strikeouts for Heflin.
 
UIC 8, Miami Oh 0 (6)
 
UIC was able to use timely hitting to score across three innings before capping the game in six innings. The Flames came together for nine hits, with eight players contributing to the effort. Watts was the lone player with two hits for the Flames, while Cairns (2), Alice Fitzpatrick (2), Watts, Willis, Wedl and Emily Wetzel all posted RBI.
 
Karissa Frazier dealt the complete game shutout as she gave up just two hits, struck out three and walked five.
 
After UIC got out of a bases loaded situation for Miami (Oh) in the top of the second, it came back in the bottom of the frame to put the eventual game-winning run of the game on the board. Wedl led off with her second triple of the day on a shot to right center and came in to score as Cairns executed a sacrifice fly.
 
The Flames turned a double play in the top of the fourth before heading to the plate and scoring five runs to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Wedl reached to start the inning with a walk then stole her first collegiate base before scoring from second on a single by Cairns. Soppet singled then Wetzel registered a base hit to right to score Cairns, with both runners moving up a base on the throw. Alice Fitzpatrick then brought in a pair with a single to left before she scored on a doubles by Watts.
 
UIC headed into the bottom of the sixth and was able to put the game away. Crane drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a single by Ria Smith, who came in to pinch hit. Watts then put down a bunt single to load the bases, setting up Willis and Wedl to hit back-to-back sacrifice flies for the final two runs.