BOCA RATON, Fla. – UIC (3-3) bounced back from a 7-2 loss to Tulsa on Friday to capture a 4-0 shutout win against Dartmouth on the first day of competition at the FAU Strike Out Cancer Tournament at the FAU Softball Stadium. The clean sheet marked the first of the year for the Flames.
 
Through the two games, UIC combined for 14 hits. Lexi Watts had the best production after having multiple hits in both games and going 5-for-7 overall. Skylee James and Tiana Mack-Miller were the only other two Flames to have at least one hit in each game.
 
HEADLINES vs. TULSA

• Trouble Comes Early: Tulsa came out quick and loaded the bases in its first go at the plate off two singles and a walk. Two runs then scored as a fielding error was committed to give the Golden Hurricane the 2-0 edge.
• Tulsa Tacks on More: After they threatened to score again in the third but a throw from Watts in center to Alyssa Griman behind the plate prevented the run, the Golden Hurricane added to their total in the fourth as two walks and a single loaded the bases before an RBI single and sacrifice fly was executed. Another run came across in the fifth with a bases-loaded sac fly for the 5-0 lead.
• Errors Prove Costly: With two errors already committed in the game by the Flames, they had another two just in the sixth inning as an errant throw on a fielder's choice and fielding miscue allowed a Tulsa runner to score.
• Golden Hurricane Get Another: Already with a 6-0 lead, Tulsa brought in its final run as a single and double put runners in scoring position before back-to-back fielder's choice plays eventually allowed one to cross the plate.
• Flames Find Late Tallies: UIC made a last-chance effort in the bottom of the seventh down 7-0. Maddie Spinks led off the frame and reached on an error before Watts followed with her third hit of the game on a bunt single. After runners advanced on a sac bunt from Taylor Cairns, Mack-Miller got the sac fly to put the Flames on the board and Watts came in to score as Tulsa was given an error.

 
NOTABLES vs. TULSA

• Watts had her second multi-hit game of the season as she went 3-for-4 to aid in UIC's seven hits. James added her second multi-hit effort with two hits as Cairns and Mack-Miller made up the other tallies.
• UIC had batters reach base in four of the first five innings but left seven on base, including four in scoring position, after scattering five hits and two walks.
• The Flames gave up a season-high seven runs in addition to an opponent-high 10 hits, marking the first double-digit hit total for an opponent this season.
• Errors were a problem on both sides as UIC had a season-high four and Tulsa added three of its own.
• Karissa Frazier earned the start and went three complete innings and into the fourth as she walked three and allowed four hits. Allie Trudeau took over with two on and no outs in the fourth and went 1.1 frames with two walks and three hits allowed. Marley Hanlon came in with the bases loaded in the fifth and finished the game with two strikeouts and three hits allowed in 2.2 innings.

 
HEADLINES vs. DARTMOUTH

• UIC Connects in First: UIC bounced back from game one and executed in the first inning to take the lead. Watts led off with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored as James singled.
• Convert on Errors: The Flames used errors committed by Dartmouth in their favor in the second as Claire Crane and Emily Wetzel both reached on the mishaps and came in to score with Crane touching the plate on a groundout for Spinks and Wetzel coming in on a bunt single by Watts.
• Flames Find the Bases, Score in Seventh: After scoring in the first and second, UIC put runners on base in each of the next three innings. All four of the runners were left on base after each collecting a hit. In the seventh, Kayla Wedl came up big with two outs as she singled, stole second then scored as the Big Green committed another error.
• Dynamic Duo: Trudeau collected her third start of the season and went five innings while striking out three and allowing just two hits and one walk. Frazier tossed the final two frames and struck out two and gave up just two hits. The pair shared the clean sheet while Trudeau picked up her first win of the year.

 
NOTABLES vs. DARTMOUTH

• The Flames outhit the Big Green, 7-4, as Watts (2) and Crane (2) led the group that was also made up of singles by James, Wedl and Mack-Miller.
• UIC was quick on the bases as it had four steals, one behind its season-high five made against Samford (Feb. 9).
• For the fourth time this season, the opponent was kept to five or less hits as Dartmouth had just four and was held off base in two innings.

 
UP NEXT
Day two of the FAU Strike Out Cancer Tournament picks up Saturday as the Flames take on Columbia at 12:30 p.m. CT and host Florida Atlantic at 7:15 p.m.