FORT MYERS, Fla. – The UIC softball team (2-0) started the 2020 season on a high note, picking up a pair of wins in day one of the FGCU Invitational. The Flames dominated in their opener against Furman (1-4), defeating the Paladins 6-1 before taking a dramatic 5-4 come-from-behind win over Memphis (4-2) in their final game of the day.

Game Highlights vs. Furman

• Furman jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after stringing together a single and a double with two outs.
• Cassie Kaelber led off the top of the second with a double, and she moved on to third on a fly out to right off the bat of Kayla Pociejewski. McKennah Ulrey batted into a fielder's choice and moved on to second, as Kaelber crossed the plate, tying the game at one. A throwing error allowed Ulrey to score and gave the Flames the lead, 2-1.
• Tara McElligott doubled in the top of the third and came all the way around to score on a Furman throwing error to extend UIC's lead, 3-1.
• With two outs in the top of the fourth, Kayla Wedl reached on a single up the middle, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Samantha Ferguson drew a walk and stole second, allowing Wedl to score. Alyssa Griman followed with a double to center, bringing in Ferguson, 5-1. McElligott found another hole in center to drive in Griman, 6-1.
• The final three innings were scoreless on both sides, giving the Flames the five-run victory.

Facts & Figures vs. Furman

• The Flames finished with nine hits to Furman's five. Tara McElligott and Cassie Kaelber led with a pair of hits each, while Kayla Wedl, Samantha Ferguson, Alyssa Griman, Kayla Pociejewski and Maddie Spinks all finished with one.
• UIC's six runs all came from different Flames, as Wedl, Ferguson, Griman, McElligott, Kaelber and McKennah Ulrey all crossed the plate.
• Christina Toniolo made her collegiate debut and picked up her first win, pitching 4.0 innings and allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out three.
• Jennah Speth came on to pitch the final three innings and allowed one hit while striking out five.

Game Highlights vs. Memphis

• Four walks, a triple and an error gave Memphis a 3-0 lead in the top of the second.
• In the top of the third, Maddie Spinks drew a walk and advanced to second on a ground out from Alannah Cran. Kayla Wedl laid a single out to center to bring in Spinks, 3-1.
• Alyssa Griman led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and was replaced on the bases by Jordyn Cebedo. Tara McElligott doubled to right center, moving Cebedo to third, and a groundout from Cassie Kaelber brought her in, 3-2.
• The Flames tied the game at three in the bottom of the fifth, as Spinks led off with an infield single and took second on an Alannah Cran sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch put Spinks on third, and a sacrifice fly to right from Wedl drove her in.
• Memphis broke the tie in the top of the seventh with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, 4-3.
• UIC went to work in its final at bat, putting its first two runners on via a walk from Spinks and a single from Cran. Wedl flied out to center to move them both into scoring position, and a wild pitch allowed Spinks to score and tie the game at four. Griman walked to put runners on the corners with two outs for McElligott, who singled to the pitcher to plate Cran and give the Flames the win.

Facts & Figures vs. Memphis

• The Flames had the advantage in hits, 6-5. Tara McElligott was the lone Flame to take home a multi-hit performance with two. Kayla Wedl, Alyssa Griman, Alannah Cran and Maddie Spinks made up the remaining tabs.
• Maddie Spinks crossed the dish three times to lead the Flames, while Jordyn Cebedo and Cran also picked up one run apiece.
• Allie Trudeau pitched the duration to grab her first win of the season. The senior allowed five hits and three earned runs.

Up Next

• UIC will face No. 24 Arkansas and host Florida Gulf Coast tomorrow in day two.