STILLWATER, Okla. – The UIC softball team (5-7) split a pair of five-inning contests on Friday in its first day of the OSU/Tulsa Invitational, toppling Louisville (5-10) 10-2 in five innings before finishing out the day with a 8-0 loss in five innings to 2019 Women's College World Series contender and host No. 14/15 Oklahoma State (9-5).

Game Highlights vs. Louisville

• Samantha Ferguson started the game with a bang, knocking the first home run of her career over the right-field fence to give the Flames an early 1-0 lead.
• A leadoff walk for Louisville in the bottom of the first stole second and scored on an error, tying the game at one.
• Kayla Wedl batted a one-out single up the middle in the top of the third and stole second. Tara McElligott grounded out to move Wedl over, and a single through the left side for Alyssa Griman plated Wedl and gave the Flames back the lead, 2-1. Maddie Spinks followed with a single, and Kayla Pociejewski found the hole in right center to bring in Griman and give UIC an insurance run, 3-1.
• Cassie Kaelber started off the top of the fourth with a bunt and moved over to second on a wild pitch. Ferguson and Wedl both drew walks to load the bases, and McElligott was hit by a pitch to allow one run to score, 4-1. Following a pitching change, Maddie Spinks singled to center and Pociejewski grounded out to the pitcher to bring across two more runs, 6-1.
• The Cardinals led off their half of the fourth with a solo home run to cut at the lead, 6-2.
• UIC added to its lead once more in the top of the fifth. Kaelber and Ferguson batted back-to-back singles and Kaelber came in to score on a Wedl double, 7-1. McElligott was once again hit by a pitch to load up the bases, and a deep foul to left from Griman allowed Ferguson to tag up and come home, 8-1. Spinks brought in two more with a single up the middle, 10-2.
• Louisville loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, but a dribbler to Christina Toniolo in the circle would end the inning and give UIC the run-rule win.

Facts & Figures vs. Louisville

• The Flames had a hefty advantage in hits, 12-5. Maddie Spinks led with a 3-for-4 performance, while Samantha Ferguson, Kayla Wedl and Cassie Kaelber all finished with multi-hit showings. Tara McElligott, Alyssa Griman and Kayla Pociejewski each picked up one hit.
• Spinks also led the pack with three RBI. Griman and Pociejewski each drove in two, while Ferguson, Wedl and McElligott each brought in one.
• Ferguson and Wedl crossed the plate three times apiece to lead the team, followed by Kaelber with two runs. McElligott and Griman each crossed the dish once.
• Christina Toniolo pitched the duration and picked up the win, improving to 2-3 on the season. The freshman gave up one earned run off five hits in her 5.0 innings.

Game Highlights vs. Oklahoma State

• Oklahoma State got an early advantage thanks to a leadoff home run in the top of the first, 1-0.
• A bases-loaded double in the bottom of the second cleared the bases for the Cowgirls and extended their lead, 4-0.
• Oklahoma State utilized two walks, three hits and one UIC error to bring four more runs across the plate and extend its lead to eight in the bottom of the fourth, 8-0.
• The Flames put two runners on in the first, second and fourth innings, but were unable to capitalize on the opportunities.

Facts & Figures vs. Oklahoma State

• Oklahoma State put up eight hits to UIC's two. Alyssa Griman and Kayla Pociejewski took credit for UIC's tabs.
• Allie Trudeau pitched 3.1 innings and took the loss, falling to 1-4 on the season. Trudeau allowed eight earned runs off eight hits. Jennah Speth pitched the remaining 0.2 innings without allowing a hit.

Up Next

• The Flames will make their way to Tulsa tomorrow to face Drake and co-host Tulsa.