GREEN BAY, WIS. – The UIC softball team (9-11, 6-4 HL) was unable to stymie an offensive attack from Horizon League foe Green Bay (13-7, 8-4 HL) in its series-opening doubleheader on Friday, falling 9-4 in game one and 9-7 in game two. The Phoenix batted a pair of homeruns in the bottom of the fifth to take game one and put up eight runs in the bottom of the fourth in game two to take the doubleheader sweep over the Flames.  

Game One Highlights

• The Flames struck early, as Kayla Wedl led off the game with a walk and came in to score on a double from Samantha Ferguson, 1-0.
• A leadoff single came in to score on a one-out double for the Phoenix in the bottom of the first, tying the game at one.
• UIC took back the lead in its next at-bat, as a Wedl batted a two-out double to left field with runners on the corners to score a pair of runs, 3-1.
• Green Bay pulled within one in the bottom of the third after a leadoff single stole second and scored on an error, 3-2.
• The Phoenix tied it at three in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of singles.
• Green Bay put up four runs off a pair of homers in the bottom of the fifth to take over the lead, 7-3.
• Alannah Cran led off the sixth with a double, and she came in to score after back-to-back groundouts, 7-4.
• The home team added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth with a bases-loaded single and a sacrifice fly, 9-4.
• The Flames put on a pair of runners in the top of the seventh, but were unable to score any runs, giving the Phoenix game one, 9-4.

Game One Facts & Figures

• Green Bay outhit UIC 14-7. Ferguson and Emma Crowley both finished with a multi-hit game, while Wedl, Cran and Dee Dee Caskey made up UIC's remaining three hits.
• Wedl picked up a pair of RBIs in the loss, while Ferguson and Larissa Villa each drove in one run apiece.
• Wedl, Cran, Maddie Spinks and Caskey scored UIC's four runs.
• Miranda Gomez got the start and took the loss, allowing seven runs (six earned) off 10 hits in 4.1 innings. Alyssa McIntosh came in in relief, allowing two earned runs off four hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Game Two Highlights

• Green Bay scored the first run of game two off a trio of singles in the bottom of the first, 1-0.
• Crowley put a single out to the gap in left center with the bases loaded in the top of the third to score a pair and allow the Flames to take over the lead, 2-1. Tara McElligott followed with a walk to re-load the bases for Cran, who doubled to empty the bags, 5-1.
• The Phoenix took back the lead and then some in the bottom of the fourth with eight runs, 9-5. The Flames surrendered six hits and four walks in the marathon half-inning.
• McElligott looked at four-straight balls to start the fifth, and she made it all the way to third after stealing second and forcing a Green Bay error. Isabelle Garcia stepped in to pinch hit and sent one through the right side to score McElligott, 9-6.
•  Crowley drew a one-out walk in the top of the seventh, and a triple from Cran allowed the pinch-running McKennah Ulrey to score, 9-7. Cassie Kaelber walked and stole second to put the tying runs in scoring position, but a groundout squashed the Flames' chances.

Game Two Facts & Figures

• The Flames were outhit 10-7 in game two. Cran and Maica Ingles led the Flames with two hits apiece, while Ferguson, Crowley and Garcia each recorded one.
• Cran finished with a game-high four RBIs. Crowley also picked up a pair of RBIs, while Garcia picked up one.
• McElligott was the only Flame to score twice. Wedl, Ferguson, Crowley, Ulrey and Ingles made up UIC's remaining five runs.
• Christina Toniolo started in the circle and took the loss, allowing eight earned runs off nine hits in 3.1 innings. Gomez pitched the remaining 2.2 innings, giving up one earned run off one hit.

Up Next

• The Flames and Phoenix will finish the series with another doubleheader tomorrow, starting at 12 p.m. CT.