CLEVELAND – The UIC softball team (27-18, 16-4 HL) came into Cleveland for the day and left with a pair of wins against the Vikings (15-31, 5-14 HL). The Flames took game one 9-4 and won game two in six innings, 12-3.

The Flames outscored the Vikings 21-7 in the two games combined, tallying 29 hits to Cleveland State's 15. Kayla Wedl led the Flames with seven hits, followed by Skylee James with four. Cassie Kaelber, Jasmine Willis, Claire Crane, Taylor Cairns and Lexi Watts each tabbed three hits, while Tiana Mack-Miller collected two.  

Game One Highlights

• Watts reached on an error in the top of the first, and James drew a walk. Mack-Miller sac-bunted to move both runners into scoring position, and Watts crossed the plate on a grounder off the bat of Alyssa Griman to give UIC a 1-0 lead.
• Wedl doubled to lead off the second, and Willis stepped into the plate and launched her second home run of the season over the center-field fence, growing the lead to 3-0.
• The Vikings got on the board in the bottom of the third, stringing together three hits with two outs to bring a pair across the plate, 3-2.
• UIC answered Cleveland State's two runs with two of its own in the top of the fourth. The Flames loaded the bases by way of a single from Cairns, a bunt from Kaelber and an infield single from Watts. James put the ball through the middle of the field, scoring Cairns and Kaelber, putting the lead back at three, 5-2.
• In the top of the fifth, James made it to second off a misread fly out in left, Cairns bunted and Kaelber was hit by a pitch to once again load the bases for the Flames. Crane put a ball into the hole in right center to score one, and Watts walked to score another, 7-2.
• Wedl batted a ball to the shortstop and outran the throw to first. Willis came up next and smacked another deep hit, this time off the wall in left center, scoring Wedl, 8-2.
• With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, the Vikings got a base hit that moved to second on a pass ball. Another base hit to the right side scored the runner, 8-3.
• The Flames took the run right back in the top of the seventh, as James doubled with two outs and scored on a single from Mack-Miller, 9-3.
• The Vikings got a free base off a catcher's interference, and the runner advanced to third after a wild pitch and a passed ball. A high infield popup was lost in the sun and fell, allowing Cleveland State to score one more run, 9-4.

Game One Facts & Figures

• The Flames tallied 15 hits and took advantage of five Cleveland State errors in game one. Wedl ended the day 3-for-5, while James, Willis, Cairns and Crane all went 2-for-4. Kaelber also had a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-3. Mack-Miller and Watts each added one hit as well. Willis paced the Flames with three RBI, while James brought in two.
• Karissa Frazier started in the circle and pitched 6.0 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) off eight hits, while striking out four. Jennah Speth pitched the final inning and gave up one run off two hits.

Game Two Highlights

• The Flames jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first after the Horizon League walks leader Mack-Miller saw four balls, Griman singled, and Wedl sent her seventh home run of the season out of the park.  
• The home team tied it in the bottom of the second with a three-run shot of its own over the left field wall.
• UIC took the lead back in the top of the second with a walk and back-to-back base hits. Crane drew the walk, followed by a single from Watts and a single-base hit from James to score Crane, making it 4-3.
• Wedl singled, stole second and came around to score on a single up the middle from Cairns to give the Flames an insurance run in the top of the third, 5-3.
• Watts led off the fourth with a bunt, and Mack-Miller singled to put runners on first and second. Watts stole third and made it all the way home on a Viking error in an attempt to catch her stealing, 6-3. Wedl stepped up to the plate next and tripled, scoring Mack-Miller, growing the lead to four, 7-3.
• Kaelber put a bullet out to left and advanced to single on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth with one out. Watts walked, and James put a single up the middle to bring Kaelber across the dish, 8-3.
• The Flames added four more in the top of the sixth to put the Vikings away for good. Marley Hanlon entered the game to pinch hit and drew a walk, and Wedl followed it up with her fourth hit of the afternoon. Willis doubled, bringing in both runners, and advanced to third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt at second. Kayla Pociejewski stepped in to pinch hit for Cairns and put a sacrifice fly deep into right, allowing Willis to tag up and score. Crane took a trip around the bags after a single up the middle foiled the Viking outfield, allowing her to score.

Game Two Facts & Figures

• The Flames tallied at least one run in all six innings played. Wedl finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI and three runs to lead the offensive front. Watts and James both went 2-for-4, with James grabbing a pair of RBI as well. Mack-Miller, Griman, Willis, Cairns, Kaelber and Crane each collected one hit.
• Allie Trudeau got the start and pitched 5.0 innings, allowing three earned runs off five hits while striking out five. Speth closed her second game of the day, pitching the sixth inning for the Flames, walking one and striking out one.

Up Next

• The Flames will return home to finish out the regular season with a three-game set against Youngstown State.