CHICAGO – The UIC softball team (14-14, 4-0 HL) grabbed a pair of wins over Horizon League foe Detroit Mercy (13-19, 5-3 HL) on Friday afternoon. The Flames got the day started with a 9-0 (5) run-rule victory in game one before holding off the Titans for another win in game two, 10-8.

Game One Highlights

• The Flames drew first blood in the bottom of the third. Emily Wetzel led off with a single up the middle and Lexi Watts and Tara McElligott were both hit by pitches to load the bases for the Flames. Back-to-back fielders' choice to the pitcher gave the Titans two outs at home, but Alyssa Griman was able to bat the ball past the pitcher to the shortstop, and the play at second was too late, allowing both McElligott and Skylee James to score, 2-0.
• UIC put the game out of reach for good in the bottom of the fifth with seven runs. James put a single through the left side, Kayla Wedl walked, and Griman replaced her on a fielder's choice, while James moved on to third. Schyler Ek put a ball down the left field line and Cassie Kaelber followed with a ball down the right field line, bringing two across the plate, 4-0.
• The inning continued as Claire Crane emptied the bags with a triple and came home on a grounder from Emily Wetzel, 7-0. Watts laid down a bunt and McElligott followed with her fifth homer of the season to end the game by run-rule, 9-0.

Game One Facts & Figures

• The Flames tallied seven hits to Detroit Mercy's one. Watts, McElligott, James, Ek, Kaelber, Crane and Wetzel made up UIC's seven tallies.
• McElligott, Griman and crane each finished with two RBI, while Ek, Kaelber and Wetzel each grabbed one.
• Marley Hanlon was lights out in the circle for the Flames, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing just one hit in her 16 batters faced.

Game Two Highlights

• UIC once again scored first in game two, putting up a four spot in their first at bat off three hits and a pair of Titan errors. Watts started things off with a walk and McElligott doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Wedl laid down a bunt which allowed speedy Watts to make her way home, 1-0. Griman looked at four balls to load the bases and Jasmine Willis entered the game to pinch hit, making it to first on a catcher's interference and bringing across another run, 2-0. Kaelber reached on an error by the Titan third baseman, plating Wedl, and Wetzel found a hole in the infield to bring Griman home, 4-0.
• Detroit Mercy responded with a trio of runs in the top of the second, using four hits, while taking advantage of a UIC error to come within one, 4-3.
• The Flames answered in their half of the inning with a pair of runs. James drew a walk and was replaced at first off a fielder's choice from Wedl. Griman doubled to bring Wedl in all the way from first, and Griman was able to make her way back home on a Titan fielding error off the bat of Ek, 6-3.
• Lexi Watts put a one-out single in the infield in the bottom of the third and stole second, allowing her to score on a double from James, 7-3. Two more doubles followed, off the bats of Wedl and Griman, bringing in another pair of runs, 9-3.
• The Titans threatened again in the top of the fifth, tallying five runs off four hits and one UIC error to once again come within one run, 9-8.
• The Flames got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as Wedl led off with a single and came around to score after a wild pitch, a grounder and a fielder's choice. Wedl was able to outrun the throw home on the fielder's choice to get UIC the two-run cushion, 10-8.
• Detroit Mercy slapped a pair of one-out singles to put runners on first and second in its final at bat, but the next two batters popped up to right and left field, respectively, to end the game in favor of the Flames.

Game Two Facts & Figures

• Detroit Mercy outhit UIC, 12-10. Wedl finished the day leading the Flames with three hits, while Griman ended with two. Watts, McElligott, James, Kaelber and Wetzel made up UIC's remaining hits.
• Wedl and Griman finished with a pair of RBI each. James, Wetzel and Maddie Spinks each had one.
• Karissa Frazier got the start and the win for the Flames, allowing four earned runs off nine hits in 4.2 innings pitched to improve to 3-5 on the season.
• Marley Hanlon came back on in relief and pitched 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and striking out another three to grab her second save of the season.

Up Next

• UIC will tie a bow on the Detroit Mercy series tomorrow at 2 p.m. CT.