CHICAGO – The UIC softball team (29-18) will close out its eight-game homestand this week with a pair of non-conference tilts against city foes Loyola (24-20) and DePaul (24-17). The Flames first host the Ramblers Tuesday before taking on the Blue Demons Wednesday, with both games set for a 4 p.m. CT first pitch at Flames Field.
 
LAST TIME OUT
UIC had a weekend break from Horizon League play after it last picked up its fourth conference sweep of the season against Green Bay (April 18-19). It came away with a pair of shutouts and run-rule victories as it outlasted the Phoenix, 9-0 (5), 9-1 (5) and 3-0.
 
The Flames put together 25 hits in the series while Green Bay was limited to nine. Kayla Wedl led the drive at the plate as she went 6-for-7 with one double and one home run, and added six RBI to her plate. Jasmine Willis (2) and Jennah Speth additionally had hot bats as they both drove the ball out to aid in the four total homers.
 
With just one run allowed by the Phoenix, the pitching staff tabbed a 0.41 earned-run average as Allie Trudeau, Elaine Heflin and Karissa Frazier all picked up wins, with Heflin dealing a complete-game shutout and Trudeau, Frazier and Lindsay Melson sharing the second shutout.
 
SCOUTING THE FLAMES
UIC has increased its batting average to .282 on the year behind team-leaders Lexi Watts (.391), Speth (.347), Savannah Soppet (.307) and Wedl (.292). Watts boasts a dominating 59 hits and 24 stolen bases, as she is one steal away from taking ownership of the all-time steals category. Speth has knocked out a team-high six home runs, followed by Willis (.269) and Wedl with four each, as the trio lead in RBI with respective totals of 27, 24 and 22.
 
Opponents have been limited to a .210 batting average this season thanks to the pitching rotation of Frazier (1.55 ERA), Heflin (2.14 ERA) and Trudeau (2.41 ERA). Frazier and Heflin each have 10 wins on the year, with Trudeau brining in seven. They collectively own 11 complete-game shutouts and two shared, as they have struck out 253 with Heflin ringing up an impressive 129.
 
SCOUTING THE RAMBLERS
Loyola makes its way to the near west side following a nine game stretch at home where it went 6-3, with its most recent turnout of 2-1 against Northern Iowa over the weekend. The Ramblers are just 2-11 on the road this season with both wins coming against Alabama State during tournament play.
 
Shannon McGee (.318), Erica Nagel (.259), Jordyn Cordell (.254) and Katie Kasubke (.246) all own more than 30 hits on the year, led by McGee's 42, as the team is hitting .225. McGee and Kasubke have teamed up to drive in 43 runs as they have hit five of Loyola's 11 home runs. Nagle has been quick on the bases, swiping nearly half of the team's 28 with 13.
 
Kiley Jones (2.09 ERA) and Keenan Dolezal (2.35 ERA) have been the only two pitchers for the Ramblers this sason as they own a collective 2.20 ERA and .254 opposing average. Jones has produced 16 wins, with Dolezal taking the remaining eight, as she has struck out 95 in 177.2 innings followed by 54 Ks from Dolezal in 131.0 frames.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH LOYOLA
UIC holds a 67-25 record in the all-time series with Loyola as they last faced one another in 2015 with the Ramblers taking a 12-2 victory in five innings on their home field.
 
SCOUTING THE BLUE DEMONS
DePaul heads down Halsted Street after collecting at pair of wins at Georgetown last weekend. The Blue Demons owns a 9-2 record over their last 11 games as they hold an 11-8 record in games played on the road this season.
 
Micah Fitzgerald (.363), Megan Leyva (.323) and Jessica Cothern (.300) have aided in the team's effort of hitting .276 on the year as they have put up a combined 111 hits. A notable component of DePaul offense has been its power, as it owns 37 home runs led by the bats of Nicole Pihl (10), Leyva (6) and Alysia Rodriguez (6). The trio has also turned out the most RBI with respective totals of 28, 26 and 24.
 
Pitching this season has been primarily shared by Missy Zoch (3.06 ERA) and Kennedy Garcia (3.29 ERA), while Kayla Landwehrmier (5.67 ERA) and Krista Dalgarn (8.91 ERA) have also seen time in the circle. The staff owns a 3.92 ERA and .295 opposing average while Zoch leads the team with 11 wins, 11 complete games and 122 strikeouts in 125.2 innings.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH DEPAUL
Wednesday's matchup will be the first time the Flames and Blue Demons have met in the regular season since 2011, when they squared off twice at the Saluki Invitational in Carbondale, Ill., and DePaul came away with both games, 6-0 and 3-2, moving UIC's all-time record to 32-53.