YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The UIC softball team (5-9, 2-2 HL) fought against Horizon League foe Youngstown State (8-4, 2-2 HL) on Saturday afternoon in a pair of pitcher's duels, falling 2-1 in game one before picking up a win in game two by the same score. The Flames and Penguins finished their first Horizon League series of the season with a 2-2 split after sharing yesterday's twin bill opener.

Game One Highlights

• For the second time this season, Kayla Wedl led off the game with a solo home run, this one going over the right-field fence, to give UIC a 1-0 lead after their first at bat.
• A trio of one-out singles allowed the Penguins to tie the game at one in the bottom of the fourth.
• The Penguins led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, and a UIC error allowed the runner to move to second. The Flames got the next batter to pop up, but the Penguin that followed put a double out to left field, bringing across a run and allowing the home team to take a 2-1 walk-off win.

Game One Facts & Figures

• The Flames were outhit, 6-3. Kayla Wedl, Cassie Kaelber and Alannah Cran made up UIC's tabs.
• Wedl's solo shot to lead off the game gave her UIC's lone run and RBI on the day.
• Miranda Gomez dealt for the Flames in the pitcher's duel, allowing two runs (one earned) off six hits in 6.1 innings of work.

Game Two Highlights

• Game two was another pitcher's battle, but after five scoreless innings, the Flames were able to take advantage of three Youngstown State errors to score a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, 2-0. Kayla Wedl led things off with a single up the middle, which was followed by a bunt from Samantha Ferguson. The throw in attempt to get Ferguson out went wide, allowing Wedl to score and Ferguson to move to second. Two more Penguin fielding errors followed, allowing Ferguson to score and the Flames to take a 2-0 lead.
• Down to its final three outs, the Penguins led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run over the left-center fence, cutting UIC's lead in half, 2-1. The Flames retired the next three batters in order with back-to-back-to-back groundouts to hold on for the win.

Game Two Facts & Figures

• The Flames were once again held to three hits, while the home team finished with four. Tara McElligott, Maica Ingles and Kayla Wedl combined for UIC's three hits.
• Wedl and Samantha Ferguson both crossed the dish for UIC, while McElligott picked up the Flames' lone RBI.
• Christina Toniolo pitched the duration to improve to 3-3 on the season, allowing one earned run and limiting the Penguins to just four hits in seven innings of work.

Up Next

• The Flames will welcome Horizon League newcomer Purdue Fort Wayne to Flames Field March 19-20 for their home opener.