CHICAGO – The UIC softball team (32-20, 17-4 HL) will head to Rochester, Mich., this weekend to close out the regular season with a three-game series against Oakland (20-21, 13-8 HL). Weather has forced the schedule to be adjusted, with the Flames and Golden Grizzlies now playing a single game Saturday at 2 p.m. CT and a doubleheader Sunday at 11 a.m.
 
UIC currently sits in first place in the conference standings and needs one win to clinch the regular season title and hosting rights for the Horizon League Championship, set for May 10-13.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Flames suffered their first series loss of the season last weekend (April 28-30) when it had a 1-2 turnout at Wright State. The Raiders claimed game one, 4-2, before the teams endured a nearly two-day break from action due to weather and resumed play on Sunday, when WSU took game two, 2-1, and UIC closed out the set with a 3-1 win.
 
Across the three games, the Flames were kept to 15 hits with a team-high four from Taylor Cairns, who also notched an RBI. Allie Trudeau picked up the lone win in the circle as she threw 8.2 innings in two appearances with seven strikeouts and five hits allowed, aiding in her repeating at the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week.
 
SCOUTING THE FLAMES
UIC owns the second-best batting average in the conference with a .377 mark. Lexi Watts (.377), Jennah Speth (.330), Savannah Soppet (.298), Cairns (.294) and Kayla Wedl (.291) have had the best production, with Watts ranking 33rd nationally off 63 hits and also leading the team with 24 stolen bases. Speth (6), Wedl (5) and Jasmine Willis (5) have made up all but seven of the team's home runs as Speth and Willis boast a team-high 28 RBI.
 
Conference play has presented the Flames with a .292 average as Watts (.357), Willis (.340) and Cairns (.339) lead the charge at the plate. Watts has produced a team-best 25 hits while Speth (.323) has had 11 of her 21 hits come with extra bases off four doubles, one triple and six homers, aiding in the team's top RBI mark of 20.
 
With an earned-run average of 2.10 that ranks 31st in the nation, UIC's pitching continues to impress behind the effort of Karissa Frazier (1.47 ERA), Trudeau (2.04 ERA) and Elaine Heflin (2.15 ERA) as they have limited opponents to a .211 batting average. The trio has combined for 12 shutouts on the year and a league-leading 276 strikeouts, with a team-high 137 from Heflin.
 
The Flames have locked in a 0.99 ERA in conference play as Frazier (0.65 ERA), Trudeau (1.05 ERA) and Heflin (1.26 ERA) lead the league with their averages. They have held opponents to a minimal .170 average and have struck out a dominating 145 with 66 coming from Heflin.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Over its last three conference series, Oakland has gone 5-4 with a most recent sweep over Valparaiso, as it has additionally swept Cleveland State and Green Bay this season. The Golden Grizzlies are currently positioned in fifth in the conference standings.
 
Oakland owns a .262 batting average with Jamie Squires (.351), Mikayela Marciniak (.331), Kelsie Swanson (.285) and Lyndsay Hill (.282) leading those with 100+ at-bats. Marciniak has notched a team-high 42 hits and 27 RBI while Squires owns nearly half of the team's 13 home runs with six and has produced 24 RBI.
 
The Golden Grizzlies' batting average in conference play is at the top with a .307 mark led by Squirea (.431), Hill (.388), Swanson (.344) and Marciniak (.338), who all own more than 20 hits. Squires has racked up 28 hits with six doubles, two triples and five home runs as she has driven in 22 runs to head the offense.
 
The pitching staff has put together a 2.73 ERA with an opposing average of .254. Erin Kownacki (1.64 ERA) has commanded the circle for 132.2 innings as she holds 13 of the team's wins and 85 strikeouts. Haley Zemmer (3.31 ERA) and Kaley Waalkes (3.87 ERA) have also collected wins on the year and contributed to the team's 185 total strikeouts.
 
In conference play, Kownacki (1.88 ERA) and Zemmer (2.98 ERA) have split a majority of the responsibility as Oakland holds a 2.69 ERA, .253 opposing average and the second-most strikeouts in the Horizon League with 104.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
UIC holds an 8-4 record in the all-time series with Oakland. The Flames swept the three-game series last season in Michigan as they collected with shutouts.