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UIC Athletics

thevalley
2018 Horizon League Softball Champions
7
Winner Oakland OAK 23-26
3
UIC UIC 32-19
Winner
Oakland OAK
23-26
7
Final
3
UIC UIC
32-19
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oakland OAK 1 0 0 1 1 0 4 7 12 1
UIC UIC 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 0

W: ZEMMER, H. (16-8) L: Frazier, Karissa (11-5)

1
Oakland OAK 23-27
3
Winner UIC UIC 33-19
Oakland OAK
23-27
1
Final
3
UIC UIC
33-19
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oakland OAK 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 0
UIC UIC 0 0 0 1 0 2 X 3 10 0

W: Hanlon, Marley (6-4) L: ZEMMER, Haley (16-9)

Game Recap: Softball | | Jenn Zoellick

CHAMPIONS AGAIN! Flames Reclaim Horizon League Crown

UIC wins 10th Conference Title in program history

CHICAGO – The UIC Flames (33-19) are once again the Horizon League Softball Champions, following a dramatic pair of games against No. 2 Oakland (23-27) on Saturday at Flames Field. UIC takes home the League title for the second-straight year and the 10th time in program history.

With the Tournament crown once again in hand, the Flames earn an automatic bid to NCAA Regionals for the second-straight year. UIC now awaits the announcement of its destination on Sunday, May 13 at 9 p.m. CT.

Entering the double-elimination tournament championship with a 2-0 record, the Flames had the opportunity to come back and try again versus the Golden Grizzlies after falling 7-3 in the first game of the day. UIC took a 1-1 tie into the bottom of the sixth, where it scored two runs and sailed its way to the 3-1 win.



Game One Highlights
  • A leadoff walk started the game for the Golden Grizzlies, and moved over to third on a pair of ground balls. A single to right field scored her easily and gave Oakland the first run of the game.
  • Kayla Wedl made it to second on a throwing error to lead off UIC's half of the first. Taylor Cairns singled to center and stole second to put two in scoring position, and a wild pitch brought Wedl across the plate and allowed Cairns to pull up into third. Tiana Mack-Miller walked and stole second, and Alyssa Griman singled to right center to score them both and allow the Flames to take over the lead, 3-1.
  • Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Oakland in the top of the fourth, and a grounder to Allie Trudeau in the circle went to first for the out, bringing one run across the plate for the Golden Grizzlies, 3-2. Oakland would tie it in the next inning with a leadoff solo home run to left center.
  • The Golden Grizzlies led off the seventh with a single and a walk, but then a storm moved in, forcing nearly two hours of delay. Oakland's first batter after the rain delay singled down the left-field line to break the tie and give the Golden Grizzlies their first lead since the first inning. Oakland continued the offensive front, scoring an additional three runs off four singles and a passed ball, ending the game with a 7-3 victory.
Game One Facts & Figures
  • The Flames offense erupted in the first inning, but then was quiet for the remainder of the game. UIC was outhit 12-7 in total, and was paced by Cassie Kaelber's perfect 3-for-3 performance. Cairns was the only other player to register multiple hits, as Griman and Jasmine Willis had one each. Griman was the sole run producer for UIC with a pair of RBI off her single in the first.
  • Trudeau got the start and pitched 5.1 innings of work allowing five hits and three earned runs. Karissa Frazier came in and pitched 1.2 innings allowing four runs, three earned, off seven hits.
Game Two Highlights
  • A leadoff triple in the top of the fourth scored on a sacrifice fly to deep center, giving the Golden Grizzlies the first lead of the game, 1-0.
  • In UIC's half of the fourth, Griman and Willis put a pair of singles up the middle and Claire Crane followed it up with a double, scoring Griman and tying the game at one.
  • The bottom of the sixth started with another single from Griman, but she was out on a fielder's choice off the bat of Wedl in the next at bat. Willis was hit by a pitch, and Crane walked to load the bags with Flames. In her first appearance since March 27 due to injury, Emily Wetzel came up big for UIC with a single up the middle to score Wedl and Willis. The Flames defense held strong in the next inning to give UIC the 3-1 victory.
Game Two Facts & Figures
  • This is the first time the Flames have won back-to-back championships since the 1998-02 squad claimed five straight.
  • Marley Hanlon pitched an absolute gem in the circle for the Flames, keeping the Golden Grizzlies to just four hits and one run in what was the second complete game of her career. Her stellar performance in the Championship game earned her a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
  • Cairns and Kaelber joined Hanlon on the All-Tournament Team and Mack-Miller was named the Tournament's MVP.
  • The Flames collected 10 hits in game two, highlighted by multi-hit showings from Cairns, Griman and Maddie Spinks. Kaelber, Willis, Crane and Wetzel combined for UIC's remaining four hits.
Up Next
  • UIC will learn its NCAA Regional destination tomorrow at 9 p.m. CT.
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