CHICAGO – The UIC softball team (14-15, 3-3 HL) will host IUPUI (10-20, 6-5 HL) this week at home. The Flames and the Jaguars will square off at Flames Field for a single game on Tuesday, April 10 at 4 p.m. CT and a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 11 starting at 2 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
UIC last welcomed Oakland to Flames Field March 30-31 for its home opener, after weather complications led to a week away from the diamond for the Flames. UIC ended the series with Oakland with a 1-2 record. The Flames and Golden Grizzlies split Friday's (March 30) doubleheader, with game one going to Oakland (5-2) and game two ending in an 8-0 (5) run-rule victory for UIC. Saturday's contest had the Golden Grizzlies over the Flames, 10-2 (5).

SCOUTING THE FLAMES
As a team, UIC's has collected 185 hits this season. The Flames are still well off at the top of the Horizon League in stolen bases, having swiped 60 so far, compared to Detroit Mercy's 50 stolen bases in second. That mark also puts UIC at 23rd in the nation as a squad.  

Lexi Watts remains the offensive leader for UIC, and is at the top of the ranks in the Horizon League as well with the second-highest hit total (39) in the conference. Watts is also second in the League with 20 stolen bases and averages 0.69 swipes per game, putting her at 23rd in the nation. The junior owns a .415 batting average, which is the third highest amongst Horizon League players. The Flames have four additional players that have surpassed the 20 hits mark thus far in Taylor Cairns (25) Skylee James (22), Kayla Wedl (22) and Alyssa Griman (21).

UIC's pitching staff owns the third-lowest ERA in the League at 3.71. Flames pitchers have struck out 109 batters, also third most in the conference, and they have held batters to a .263 average, the lowest in the Horizon League. Marley Hanlon (2.65 ERA) and Allie Trudeau (2.97 ERA) rank second and fourth, respectively, amongst Horizon League pitchers, while Trudeau is fourth in the League in strikeouts with 55. Karissa Frazier owns a 4.20 ERA with 39 strikeouts, and Jennah Speth has an ERA of 10.89 in four appearances to round out the Flames' pitching staff.

SCOUTING IUPUI
The Jags took two out of three games against Northern Kentucky this past weekend, shutting out the Norse 2-0 in game one and again in game three, 4-0. As a team, IUPUI bats .227, with 169 hits and 77 runs on the season.

Delilah Wright owns the top batting average for the Jags at .296, and has collected 24 hits this season. Haley Ginger leads the hit parade with 26, and is batting .283 to go alongside her team-high 13 RBIs. Mandy Dallas owns 24 hits and is batting .289, and has driven in 12, while Maddie Keeley has 21 hits and a .244 batting average.

The IUPUI pitching staff has an ERA of 3.74, and has allowed batters a .293 average across the team's first 30 games. Megan Overton leads the Jags with a 2.05 ERA and a 9-9 record on the mound. Dezirae Leonard (5.50 ERA) and Amanda Melzoni (7.29 ERA) round out the rotation for IUPUI.

ALL-TIME SERIES
UIC is 5-4 all-time versus the Jags, but Tuesday's matchup will be the first time the two teams will meet as Conference foes. Last season the Flames met IUPUI in the season opener as part of the Total Control Sports Invitational, with UIC landing on top of the Jags 2-0.

UP NEXT
UIC will return to the road to face Northern Kentucky on Friday (April 13) and Saturday (April 14).