ROCK HILL, SC – The UIC softball team (1-0) started off the 2021 season on a high note, taking a 3-2 win over host Winthrop (5-5) in day one of the Winthrop Garnet/Gold Classic on Friday. The Flames jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning, but Winthrop put up a late threat, batting a pair of solo home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to pull within one before UIC was able to shut down the Eagles for good and take home the one-run victory.

Game Highlights vs. Winthrop

• Kayla Wedl got the season started off on a high note, leading off the game with a solo shot to right center and giving the Flames an early 1-0 lead.
• Another leadoff homerun in the fourth off the bat of Tara McElligott gave UIC an insurance run 2-0. Jordyn Cebedo followed with a double, was replaced on the bases with Dee Dee Caskey, who came in to score on an Alannah Cran single pushing UIC's lead to three, 3-0.
• Winthrop got on the board in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out solo home run to center, 3-1.
• The home team threatened in its final at bat, recording a one-out solo home run to pull within one, 3-2. A two-out double posed another threat, but the next Eagle lined out to Wedl to give the win to UIC.

Facts & Figures vs. Winthrop

• Kayla Wedl, Tara McElligott, Jordyn Cebedo and Alannah Cran made up UIC's four hits, while Wedl, McElligott and Cran took credit for the Flames' three RBIs.
• Wedl, McElligott and Dee Dee Caskey crossed the plate for UIC.
• Miranda Gomez shined in her UIC debut, pitching 6.0 innings and allowing just one run off four hits to earn her first career win. Marley Hanlon came on to pitch in the seventh, allowing one run off two hits.

Up Next

• The Flames will face Syracuse and College of Charleston tomorrow, Feb. 27, in day two of the Winthrop Garnet/Gold Classic.