CARBONDALE, Ill. – The UIC softball team (3-5) got back in the win column Saturday evening, defeating Saint Louis (0-6) by a 4-3 tally in eight innings. Facing a 3-2 deficit in the bottom of the eighth, the Flames forced a pair of Billiken miscues to bring across a pair of runs and complete the comeback win in their fourth extra-innings battle of the young season.  

Game Highlights

• Saint Louis put up the game's first tally in the top of the second after a leadoff walk moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single to left center, 1-0.
• Tara McElligott led off UIC's half of the second with a hit-by-pitch and stole second. Larisa Villa batted an infield single, putting runners on the corners. Villa took second, and Maddie Spinks and Emma Crowley followed with singles through the left side to score both McElligott and Villa and give the Flames the lead, 2-1.
• An error and a double for the Billikens in the top of the third tied the game at two.
• Still tied after seven, the game headed to extras. With the tiebreaker rule in effect, the Billikens started off the top of the eighth with a runner on second, who came in to score after a Flames error, breaking the tie and putting Saint Louis ahead, 3-2.
• In the Flames' half of the eighth, Dee Dee Caskey started out on second and came in to score after a fly ball off the bat of Emma Crowley was dropped, once more bringing the game to a draw. Cassie Kaelber put a single out to left, putting runners on first and third for Kayla Wedl, who forced another Billikens miscue that allowed Crowley to score and end the game with the Flames on top, 4-3.

Facts & Figures

• UIC finished with six hits on the day, led by a two-hit effort from freshman Larisa Villa that included her first career double as a Flame. Cassie Kaelber, Maddie Spinks, Emma Crowley and Maica Ingles also chipped in hits for the Flames.
• Spinks and Crowley took credit for UIC's two RBI on the day.
• Tara McElligott, Dee Dee Caskey, Villa and Crowley all crossed the plate for UIC.
• Mirana Gomez got the start in the circle and pitched 5.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) off six hits. Christina Toniolo dealt the remaining 3.0 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six to pick up the win.

Up Next

• The Flames will finish out the Saluki Invitational tomorrow with rematches against Creighton (10:00 a.m. CT) and host Southern Illinois (12:15 p.m.).