ROCHESTER, Mich. – The UIC softball team (16-16, 7-0 HL) took care of Oakland (8-20, 1-8 HL) on Friday afternoon with a 10-0 (5) victory in the first meeting between the two teams since the 2018 Horizon League Championship title game. The Flames used a six-run fifth inning to put the game out of reach for the home team and remain undefeated in Horizon League action.

Game Highlights

• Skylee James put a ball directly down the right-field line with two outs in the top of the first, and Kayla Wedl followed with her fourth home run of the season, giving the Flames a 2-0 lead.
• The Flames tacked on another pair of runs in the top of the second. Jasmine Willis started things off with a blooper out in center for a double, and she moved over to third on a grounder from Schyler Ek. Emily Wetzel walked, and Lexi Watts brought in Willis with an infield single to second base. Tara McElligott singled up the middle, plating Wetzel from second, 4-0.
• UIC put up a six spot in the top of the fifth to push its lead into double digits. Watts walked to start the inning, stole second and scored a blooper single to right from James. Wedl batted the ball through the left side to put runners on first and second, and a wild pitch advanced them both. Alyssa Griman walked to load the bags, and a fielder's choice off the bat of Claire Crane brought across both Wedl and James. Ek re-loaded the bases with a single to left, and a bases-clearing double from Wetzel made it 10-0.
• A strike out, fly out and ground out retired the Golden Grizzlies in order in the bottom of the fifth, handing UIC the shutout win.

Facts & Figures

• The Flames outhit Oakland, 9-4. Both James and Wedl finished with multi-hit showings, tabbing two hits apiece. Watts, McElligott, Willis, Ek and Wetzel each finished with one.
• Wetzel led the way in RBI with three, while Crane and Wedl earned two. Watts, McElligott and James each finished with one RBI.
• Marley Hanlon pitched the duration, allowing just four hits and no runs in 5.0 innings. The sophomore improves to 4-3 after earning her third shutout of the season.

Up Next

• The Flames and Golden Grizzlies will finish off the series tomorrow with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.