YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The UIC softball team (21-17, 8-1 HL) collected its second Horizon League series sweep of the season Sunday when it outlasted Youngstown State (16-22, 4-5 HL) in eight innings for the 2-1 win at the YSU Softball Complex.
 
The Flames put up a series-high 11 hits, their 11th double-digit effort of the season. Lexi Watts, who eventually drove in the game-winning run, had a team-best three hits followed by Taylor Cairns and Alice Fitzpatrick with two each, as Fitzpatrick also earned credit for an RBI on the day.
 
Allie Trudeau dealt the first 4.1 innings in the circle for UIC, struck out five, did not give up a single walk and allowed just four hits. Karissa Frazier came in to finish the game and collect her seventh win of the season with two strikeouts, one walk and just two hits given up in the final 3.2 frames.
 
After putting just two runners on across the first four innings with hits from Jasmine Willis and Watts, the Flames loaded the bases in the top of the fifth as Fitzpatrick singled, Jennah Speth reached on an error and Kayla Wedl singled, but a strikeout and fielder's choice would end the frame without a run coming across the plate.
 
The Penguins converted in the bottom of the inning as two singles and a fielder's choice put runners at the corners before the third hit of the frame scored the first run of the game.
 
With two outs in the sixth, UIC was able to knot the score at 1-1 as Cairns, Watts and Fitzpatrick all singled, with Cairns scoring on Fitzpatrick's second hit of the game.
 
The Flames put runners at the corners with two outs in the seventh as Tiana Mack-Miller and Emily Wetzel both earned singles but they were left on base.
 
Into the eighth, Cairns led off with a single, stole second and then came in to score as Watts hit her fourth triple of the season for the game-winning run.
 
UIC continues its conference road swing with a midweek series at Valparaiso. Game one is set for Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT with a doubleheader to follow Wednesday at 1 p.m.