CHICAGO – The UIC softball team (15-14) will take its eight-game win streak into a pair of non-conference matchups this week, as it rematches with city foe Loyola (16-11) and prepares to host former Horizon League-foe Valparaiso (10-13). The Flames will head out to Rogers Park to tackle the Ramblers on Tuesday, April 2 at 4 p.m. CT before coming back home on Wednesday, April 3 to welcome the Crusaders to Flames Field at 4 p.m.

AT THE PLATE
The Flames lead the Horizon League with a .305 average as a club, and they also lead the conference in runs (159), RBI (143) and homeruns (18). The Flames are second in the conference in hits with 223, just two behind Oakland's League-leading 225 tabs. Lexi Watts and Skylee James continue to lead the way in individual batting average, batting .473 and .429, respectively, as two of just three batters still batting .400 or above. UIC also owns the top four individual spots in RBI, as Kayla Wedl leads the pack with 27, followed by teammates Tara McElligott (26), Alyssa Griman (24) and James (23).

IN THE CIRCLE
UIC's staff boasted a 1.24 ERA through five games last week, keeping opponents to a mere six earned runs on the week. Jennah Speth got her first two starts of the season and finished 2-0 with zero earned runs through her 12.1 innings of work. Marley Hanlon earned another win and another save this past week, shutting out Detroit Mercy in game on Friday (March 29) 9-0. The sophomore southpaw came on for the final 2.1 innings of game two, holding off the Titans for her second save of the season.

Karissa Frazier earned the win in game two against Detroit Mercy, improving her record on the season to 3-5. Allie Trudeau remains in a tie for second place in the League with seven wins, and her 47 strikeouts on the season ranks eighth.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Loyola was handed a 12-5 loss to Missouri Valley cohort Bradley on Sunday. The two teams will be finishing the series on Monday (April 1) with a doubleheader. Shannon McGee (.405) and Allyson Ivey (.403) lead the Rambler offense in batting average, while McGee also sits at the top of the team in runs (29) and hits (34). In the circle for Loyola, Kiley Jones owns a 2.70 ERA through 80.1 innings pitched, striking out 47 batters and allowing 74 hits. The Flames improved to 69-26 after defeating the Ramblers 2-1 just one week ago at Flames Field.

Valparaiso owns a 10-13 record with a 1-5 mark in the Missouri Valley, and will also be finishing up a conference series on Monday with Missouri State. Jaymee Lawton is batting .327 to lead the Crusaders, while teammate Carly Trepanier paves the way in hits (23) and runs (18). Kelsie Packard has 80.1 innings under her belt to lead Valpo, and she owns a team-low 3.31 ERA with 84 strikeouts. The Flames are 66-19 against the former Horizon League member, as Wednesdays game will serve as the first meeting between the two teams as non-conference foes. The Flames swept the Crusaders in a three-game series back on April 11-12, 2017.

UP NEXT
UIC will head out on its first Horizon League road trip, taking on Oakland in a three-game series this weekend.