HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The UIC softball team (19-15, 8-3 HL) extended its win-streak to five on Friday with a pair of 12-4 wins against Northern Kentucky (17-15, 4-6 HL). The Flames scored in double figures for the fourth-straight game, and matched their program record for home runs in game two for the second time this week, sending five balls over the fence.

The Flames outhit the Norse 31-19, and were paced by six hits apiece from Kayla Wedl and Lexi Watts. Claire Crane and Skylee James each put in four hits, while Taylor Cairns and Tiana Mack-Miller added three. Alyssa Griman and Maddie Spinks hit two each, and Jasmine Willis added one.

Game One Highlights

• The Flames got to work early in the first, with James reaching on a Norse error, followed by singles by Mack-Miller and Griman to load the bases. An infield single from Wedl resulted in another error for NKU, allowing James and Mack-Miller to score. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Cassie Kaelber brought Griman across the plate, giving UIC a 3-0 lead after the first half inning.
• The Norse had a leadoff single advance on a sacrifice bunt, and back-to-back doubles brought in a pair of runs for the home team, 3-2.
• The second inning started off with a walk for Maddie Spinks and a single for Watts. Watts advanced to second on the throw in to get into scoring position for James, who doubled to left field, bringing in both runners to re-establish the three-run lead, 5-2.
• Northern Kentucky's leadoff batter Ava Lawson homered to right field in the second to make it 5-3, but the Flames added one back in the third. Crane led off with a single and was moved to third by Kaelber and Spinks, and came around to score on an RBI single to center by Cairns to make it 6-3.
• Northern Kentucky's Lawson opened up the fourth the same way she opened the second with a solo shot to bring the tally to 6-4.
• Jasmine Willis came in to pinch hit to start the seventh, and Kaelber re-entered to pinch run. Spinks grounded off to move Kaelber to second, and Cairns did the same to get Kaelber to third for Watts who put a blooper out to center to bring in Kaelber. James singled and Mack-Miller walked to load the bags for Griman, who found a hole in center field to drive in a pair. Wedl followed suit with a double of her own to bring in two more, and Crane singled to drive in Wedl. The Flames would end their final at bat with 6 runs and a 12-4 lead.

Game One Facts & Figures

• The Flames ended the first game with a season-high 16 hits, rewriting a record they set just one game prior. Kayla Wedl led UIC with a 4-for-5 performance and three RBI, while Mack-Miller had one of her best offensive showings of the season, going 3-for-4. James and Griman each recorded two hits and two RBI for UIC, while Crane also registered a multi-hit performance.
• Marley Hanlon got the start and split the work with Karissa Frazier, who got the win to improve to 7-4 this season.

Game Two Highlights

• Watts led off the game with an infield single, outrunning the ball hit on the first-base line. Mack Miller and Griman both walked to load the bases for Wedl, who put a dinger over the center field fence for her first career grand slam and an instant 4-0 lead for the Flames.
• Cairns doubled and crossed the plate on a double from Watts, and Watts was driven home on a two-run long ball by James, her fourth of the season, to give UIC a7-0 lead in the fourth.
• The Norse put up a three spot in their half of the fourth, by way of four hits and a bases-loaded walk, 7-3.
• Crane knocked in her first home run of the season in the top of the fifth, a solo shot to center, extending the lead to 8-3.
• In the bottom of the fifth, the Norse added one thanks to a leadoff single, a fielder's choice and a double, 8-4.
• Watts and James singled back-to-back to start the sixth, and came around to score on a single to right field off the bat of Wedl, 10-4, setting the stage for Crane and Willis to go yard back-to-back to make it 12-4. The homer was Crane's second of the day and Willis's first this season.

Game Two Facts & Figures

• The Flames had five homers to tie the program record. Crane led the way with two, while James, Wedl and Willis added one apiece. Wedl's grand slam put her on top of the RBI output, as she ended the game with six. James tallied a hit in both games to extend her hitting streak to a new career-best eight games.
• Watts finished the game with four hits, three runs and one RBI, while James capped the day with two hits, two runs and two RBI. Spinks and Cairns also added a pair of hits each.
• Frazier got the start on the mound and dealt 3.2 innings. Allie Trudeau got the win with 3.1 innings of work, giving up just three hits and one earned run in the showing.  

Up Next

• The three-game finale between the Flames and the Norse is scheduled for tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT.