NORMAN, Okla. – The UIC softball team (10-10) opened play at the OU Tournament on Saturday by pulling away with a 4-3 win over Omaha (7-14) before it was run-ruled in five innings in a 16-1 decision against No. 9/10 Oklahoma (19-4) at Marita Hynes Field.
 
The Flames were able to acquire 12 hits across the two games, earning contributions from nine different players. Jennah Speth, Savannah Soppet and Lexi Watts led the team with two tallies each, while Kayla Wedl and Ria Smith each picked up their first-career home runs. In addition to Wedl and Smith, Watts and Tiana Mack-Miller were responsible for bringing in the runs scored.
 
UIC will close out its stay in Oklahoma on Sunday when it goes for round two against Omaha at 11 a.m. CT and Oklahoma at 1:30 p.m.
 
UIC 4, Omaha 3
 
UIC endured a back-and-forth battle against Omaha in a game that featured four lead changes before the Flames were able to come out on top. UIC put together its most hits in five games with nine as eight players aided in the total, led by Speth with two. Of the runs scored, Wedl (2), Mack-Miller and Watts brought them in.
 
Elaine Heflin picked up her ninth start of the season and went the first 4.2 innings, struck out four, walked three and allowed three hits. Speth entered the game in the bottom of the fifth and got the final out to carry into the sixth as she was credited with the win. Heflin reentered in the sixth with two on and no outs and was able to collect her first save of the season with another two strikeouts in the mix.
 
The Flames put together a two-out rally in the top of the third as Mack-Miller singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and then advanced as Wedl reached on an Omaha error. The next pitch then hit Taylor Cairns to load the bases, but an interference call would end the frame without a run coming in.
 
The Mavericks came out in the bottom of the inning to take the 1-0 lead. A walk, single and passed ball moved two runners into scoring position before a fielder's choice at the plate allowed the run to score.
 
Another bases-loaded situation in the top of the fourth presented UIC with the opportunity to tie the game at 1-1 as Kaleigh Nagle, Claire Crane and Speth all singled before Mack-Miller drew the walk and picked up the RBI to bring Nagle across the plate.
 
For the third inning, the Flames were able to get the leadoff batter on base as Cairns beat a slow-roller at first. She then stole her eighth base of the year and moved to third on a groundout before Watts hit a two-out single to bring her in for the 2-1 advantage.
 
Omaha came right back in the bottom half and put a runner on with a single before Lizzie Noble homered to left field to put the Mavericks up 3-2.
 
UIC answered in the sixth as Speth recorded her first-career double with one out and then came in on Wedl's first-career home run to straightaway center for the 4-3 lead.
 
The Mavericks threatened in the sixth as they recorded back-to-back walks to start the frame but both would be left in scoring position. They would put another two on in the seventh with a walk and a single but again leave the pair stranded to end the game.
 
#9/10 Oklahoma 16, UIC 1 (5)
 
UIC was unable to answer the offensive drive of Oklahoma as it was taken out in five innings. The Flames picked up just three hits from Watts, Soppet and Smith, who posted her first career home run. The Sooners registered an opponent season-high 14 to mark the first time an opponent reached a double-digit hit total.
 
Karissa Frazier earned the start and pitched one inning and into the second before Allie Trudeau came on in relief to pitch two frames as she struck out one and walked two. Speth entered and faced four batters with Lindsay Melson coming in to close out the game as she picked up two strikeouts.
 
Oklahoma came out in the first frame to go ahead 4-0. The Sooners put their first two on as the Flames committed a pair of errors, before back-to-back singles, a groundout and another single scored the runs.
 
Watts picked up UIC's first hit of the game in the top of the second with her third triple of the season with one out but was held on the base at the end of the inning.
 
Two walks put two on for Oklahoma in the second and a double to right center brought both runners across the plate. A single and hit by pitch loaded the bases, but the Flames were able to push the next three outs.
 
In the third, a trio of singles allowed a run to score for the Sooners before they loaded the bases off an intentional walk. A free base then walked in a run and a sacrifice fly brought in another, putting Oklahoma up 9-0.
 
After Soppet picked up the Flames' second hit of the game with a single in the top of the fourth, Oklahoma loaded the bases yet again in the bottom half with a double, walk and UIC error, allowing a run to walk in. Another Flames error then allowed two runs to score with a double, two singles and a groundout scattering the final runs.
 
With its last chance effort, Smith stepped to the plate with one out in the fifth as a pinch hitter and hit her first career home run out to left to put UIC on the board.