CHICAGO – The UIC softball team (10-14, 3-0 HL) finished its first weekend of Horizon League action with a 3-0 sweep of Cleveland State (6-19, 0-3 HL) after a doubleheader-win over the Vikings on Saturday. The Flames put on a slugfest in game one with a 15-1 (5) victory and were able to hold on in game two for the 5-4 win.   

Game One Highlights

• Tara McElligott got aboard in the bottom of the first with a one-out single to left. Back-to-back homers from Skylee James and Kayla Wedl quickly gave UIC a 3-0 lead.
• Lexi Watts laid down a bunt in the second and stole second. McElligott followed suit, reaching on an error and taking second base, while Watts moved to third. James and Wedl mimicked each other again, both drawing walks to bring in Watts, 4-0. Schyler Ek drove in James and McElligott with a single, putting UIC up 6-0.
• The Flames put up a crooked number in the third as Claire Crane and Emily Wetzel walked and Watts laid down a bunt to load the bases. Tara McElligott stepped up to the plate and launched the ball over the left-field fence, recording the first grand slam of her career and her fourth bomb of the season. James tabbed a two-base hit, and Wedl followed with her second long ball of the day, scoring both herself and James. The Flames would get one more run across in the inning with a single, two walks, a fielder's choice and a grounder to stretch the lead to 13-0.
• Cleveland State's lone run of the game came in the top of the fourth when a leadoff single came around to score after two grounders and another single, 13-1.
• UIC tacked on two more in the bottom of the fourth, as Jasmine Willis smacked the ball through the infield for a pair of RBI, 15-1.

Game One Facts & Figures

• UIC recorded three times as many hits as the Vikings, 15-5. McElligott and Wedl led the offensive front with three hits apiece, while Watts, James, Willis, and Ek all had multi-hit showings.
• McElligott and Wedl also led the way with four RBI each. James, Willis and Ek drove in two apiece, while Wetzel drove in one.
• Marley Hanlon was strong in the circle for the Flames, pitching all five innings and allowing just five hits and one earned run for her second complete-game win of the season.

Game Two Highlights

• Watts started UIC's first at bat with a single to the shortstop, and James and Wedl followed with back-to-back doubles, putting the Flames ahead by a pair, 2-0.
• The Flames added another pair of runs in the bottom of the third, as Watts once again led off the inning with a single to the shortstop. A pop up from McElligott moved Watts over to second, and a single from James moved her over to third. James stole second to put two in scoring position, and a double from Willis scored them both, 4-0.
• A walk, an error and a fielder's choice allowed the Vikings to get one run across in the top of the fifth, 4-1.
• The Vikings tied the game in their next at bat with a three-run homer, evening the score at four.
• Crane and Wetzel put up a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth, as Crane put a single out in left center and came around to score on Wetzel's double, breaking the tie and sealing the deal for UIC.

Facts & Figures Game Two

• The Flames tallied nine hits to Cleveland State's three. Watts, Wetzel and James both ended with a pair each, while Wedl, Willis and Crane made up UIC's remaining tabs.
• Willis led with two RBI. James, Wedl and Wetzel each had one.
• Karissa Frazier got the start and saw 5.1 innings of work, allowing just two hits and two earned runs. Allie Trudeau pitched the final 1.2 innings, giving up one hit and one earned run while striking out four to earn the win.

Up Next

• UIC will host city rival Loyola on Tuesday, March 26 at 4 p.m. CT.