CONWAY, S.C. – The UIC softball team (1-1) opened up the 2019 season on Friday at the Kickin' Chicken Classic. The Flames were bested by No. 8 Tennessee (1-0) in the opener, 13-2 (5), but rebounded with a 4-3 walk-off victory over Boston University (0-1).

After a back-and-forth battle in the first six innings against the Terriers, the Flames were down to their final out. With a runner on second, Kayla Pociejewski stepped up to the plate and found the hole in left field, giving UIC its first win of 2019 in walk-off fashion.   

Game Highlights vs. Tennessee

• Tennessee drew a pair of leadoff walks in its first at bat, and both came around to score on a double. Another two-base hit followed to score another, 3-0. After a lineout, Tennessee's next batter was hit by a pitch, and both baserunners advanced on a wild pitch. The runner on third made it home on a fielder's choice, and another run crossed the plate off an infield single.
• The Lady Vols started the second inning with a single, which stole second and advanced to third on a bunt. The runner on first stole second as well, and both runners came around to score on the hit that followed, 7-0. After a pair of strikeouts, back-to-back walks loaded the bases, and another run scored on a hit by pitch.
• Tennessee's leadoff single in the third advanced to second on a wild pitch, and the next two batters walked to load the bases. Another single plated a pair of runs and a left-field homer cleared the bags, 13-0.   
• Cassie Kaelber got the first hit of the game for the Flames in the top of the fourth, and advanced to second off a Skylee James walk. Kayla Wedl laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both Kaelber and James, and both runners scored off Tara McElligott's first career hit, 13-2.

Facts & Figures vs. Tennessee

• Tennessee's 13 runs came off 12 hits. The Lady Vols contained the Flames to just two hits, a pair of singles off the bats of Kaelber and McElligott.
• Karissa Frazier got the start and pitched 2.0 innings, allowing eight runs off six hits to take the loss. Jennah Speth came on in the third and allowed five off three hits, and Marley Hanlon finished off the game, giving up three hits and no runs in 2.0 innings of work.

Game Highlights vs. Boston University

• Boston University drew a leadoff double to start the second, which came around to score after a sacrifice bunt led to a UIC error, 1-0.
• Emily Wetzel walked to open up the third for UIC, and made it around to third after Watts singled and advanced to second on an error. A fielder's choice off the bat of Cassie Kaelber scored Wetzel, and Skylee James drew another walk to put runners on first and second. Another fielder's choice got Tara McElligott aboard, but Watts was out on the force at home. Alyssa Griman singled to the shortstop which allowed Kaelber to score, giving the Flames the 2-1 lead.
• The Terriers tied the game after a fielder's choice and a trio of singles in the top of the fifth, and the next player drew a walk to score another, putting the lead back in their hands, 3-2.
• Claire Crane and Wetzel started the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles, and Crane was able to cross home plate after back-to-back sacrifice bunts from Lexi Watts and Cassie Kaelber, tying the game at three.
• Kayla Wedl led off the bottom of the seventh and reached on an error, and after a strikeout and a pop out, Kayla Pociejewski displayed late heroics with a single to left to bring around Wedl and give the Flames the 4-3 win.

Facts & Figures vs. Boston University

• The Flames tallied nine hits in the walk-off win, compared to seven for the Terriers. Watts ended the day going 2-for-3, while Wetzel finished with a perfect 2-for-2 showing. James, McElligott, Griman and Pociejewski made up the Flames remaining tallies.
• Allie Trudeau pitched the duration for the Flames, giving up three runs off seven hits while striking out three.

Up Next

• The Flames will face Rider University tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. CT before a rematch with Tennessee at 3:15 p.m.