URBANA, Ill. – The offensive attack of Illinois (18-9) was too much for UIC (11-10) to handle Tuesday as the Flames suffered a pair of losses, 6-4 and 16-5 (5), to their Big Ten opponent at Eichelberger Field.
 
Prior to the day, the Flames had only allowed one home run all season. However, the Fighting Illini turned out a combined 24 hits which featured seven homers.
 
In the attack, UIC was limited to 10 hits across the two games with a team-high three from Alyssa Griman, two of which came with extra bases, as Tiana Mack-Miller, Kayla Wedl and Lexi Watts also recorded one hit in each game. Mack-Miller collected a team-best four RBI while Griman notched two.
 
Game One Highlights

• For the third time this season, the Flames came out ahead after the first inning. Watts led off with a single and Taylor Cairns followed with her first triple of the season to plate the first run. After Skylee James drew a walk, Mack-Miller stepped up and singled to bring Cairns across the plate for the 2-0 lead.
• Illinois had its first four batters reach base in the second to score one run and then came back in the third to go up 3-2 off the assistance of a triple, single and double. Another two runs were tacked on for the Fighting Illini in the fourth with a solo home run from Maddison Demers and an RBI single.
• After its two-run first inning, UIC was held off base for the following four frames as 15 straight batters were retired. James broke the streak as she reached base with a walk in the sixth and moved up on Griman's third double of the season before she scored on a sacrifice fly from Mack-Miller to narrow Illinois' lead to 5-3.
• Following a solo shot from the Fighting Illini's Carly Thomas in the bottom of the sixth, the Flames went with their final round at the plate looking to make a comeback. Wedl led off with a bunt single before she stole second and made it all the way across home plate as Illinois committed a pair of back-to-back errors. However, Wedl's run would be the last of the game for UIC.

 
Facts & Figures – Game One

• The Flames were limited to five hits in the game while the Fighting Illini set an opponent-high for the season with 13 tallies. Five players made up UIC's total while Mack-Miller had a team-best 1-for-2 outing with two RBI. Wedl's late hit improved her hit streak to eight games.
• Three pitchers were used from the Flames' roster. Allie Trudeau got the start and went 1.1 innings before Karissa Frazier entered and tossed 1.2 frames and registered the two strikeouts in the game. Marley Hanlon pitched the final 3.0 innings with one run allowed.

 
Game Two Highlights

• UIC broke out early for the second straight game as it collected a 2-0 lead after the first. Watts led off with a single and came across the plate as Griman hit her second home run of the season to left center.
• The advantage did not last long as Illinois came right back in the bottom of the inning to go up 4-2 as two singles and a Flames error led to one run scoring before Maddi Doane hit a three-run homer. The Fighting Illini added another four runs in the next frame off a three-run round-tripper from Bella Loya and a solo shot from Doane to sky to an 8-2 lead.
• After UIC left the bases loaded in the second, it was able to execute in the third and score two runs. Griman led off with a single and Wedl reached on an error before both moved up on a wild pitch then scored on a single from Mack-Miller. The bases would be left loaded at the end of the inning as Emily Wetzel and Watts walked.
• The Fighting Illini added another run with an RBI single in the fourth before having their most explosive inning of the game in the fifth. Two walks and a single loaded the bases before a walk brought in a run and a single scored another. Kiana Sherlund and Sam Acosta then hit back-to-back home runs, with Sherlund's coming as a grand slam.
• The Flames would plate one more run in the fifth at the hands of Illinois as Wetzel reached on an error and scored on another that put Kayla Pociejewski on base.

 
Facts & Figures – Game Two

• UIC was kept to five hits with a team-best two from Griman, as she tied with Mack-Miller for the top mark in RBI with two apiece. Wedl was able to improve her hit streak to nine games with her tally while Watts went 1-for-2 with two walks.
• Illinois had 11 hits which was the first time this season that an opponent had 10-plus hits in consecutive games. Five of its tallies came off the long ball.
• Jennah Speth made her second appearance of the season in the circle and went the first 1.2 innings before Frazier came in for 1.1 frames and Hanlon dealt the final inning.

 
Up Next

• The Flames hit the road to open Horizon League play with Detroit Mercy this weekend. Game one is set for Friday at 2 p.m. CT with a doubleheader Saturday at 11 a.m. at Buysse Ballpark in Detroit.