CARBONDALE, Ill. – The UIC softball team (3-6) dropped a pair of rematches on Sunday, falling 8-2 in its first rematch of the day with Creighton (4-4) before dropping a 6-2 decision in its rematch with host Southern Illinois (13-0) in its final game of the weekend.  

The Flames battled back from an early 2-0 deficit against the Bluejays, tying the game at two in the bottom of the first. A two-run homer in the top of the third would break the tie and put Creighton in the lead for good. In the finale, UIC was able to keep host Southern Illinois silent until the fifth inning, when the Salukis tied the game at two runs apiece. The home team then tacked on four runs in the bottom of the sixth to finish off the Flames, 6-2.

Game Highlights vs. Creighton

• Creighton scored a pair of runs in its first at bat after three singles and an error, allowing the Bluejays to take an early 2-0 lead.  
• The Flames responded in their half of the first, as Kayla Wedl drew a walk, stole second and moved to third on an error by Creighton. Tara McElligott also looked at four balls, putting runners on the corners for Mary Jones, who singled out to left to score Wedl, 2-1. Larisa Villa came in to pinch hit and put the ball out in right, allowing McElligott to cross the plate and tie the game at two.
• Creighton broke the tie in the top of the third with a two-run shot over the right field fence, 4-2.
• The Bluejays extended their lead in the top of the fourth with a single, a walk and another single, 5-2.
• Back-to-back doubles in the top of the fifth brought across another run for Creighton, 6-2.
• Creighton strung together a trio of hits in the top of the seventh to once more extend its lead, 8-2.
• The Flames were unable to get a runner on in their half of the seventh, giving the Bluejays the 8-2 win.

Facts & Figures vs. Creighton

• The Flames finished with four hits split between Mary Jones and Larisa Villa. Jones and Villa also picked UIC's two RBI on the day.
• Kayla Wedl and Tara McElligott recorded UIC's two runs.
• Alyssa McIntosh got the start and took the loss, pitching 2.1 innings and giving up four runs (two earned) off six hits. Miranda Gomez pitched 2.2 innings of relief, allowing two earned runs off four hits. Marley Hanlon dealt the final 2.0 innings, giving up two earned runs off three hits.

Game Highlights vs. Southern Illinois

• The Flames scored first in the top of the third, as Maica Ingles led off the inning with a single. Dee Dee Caskey doubled down the right field line, and Cassie Kaelber followed with a grounder to bring in Ingles, 1-0. Kayla Wedl put down a single at the third basemen, which scored Caskey and gave UIC a 2-0 lead.
• Southern Illinois got their first hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run over the right field fence, cutting the lead in half, 2-1. A single, a walk and another single followed, tying the game at two.
• The Salukis broke the tie with a bases-loaded fielder's choice in the bottom of the sixth, 3-2. A three-run home run followed, pushing Southern Illinois's lead to four, 6-2.
• UIC was unable to summon a comeback in their final at bat, handing the home team the 6-2 victory.

Facts & Figures vs. Southern Illinois

• Cassie Kaelber, Kayla Wedl, Tara McElligott, Maica Ingles and Dee Dee Caskey made up UIC's five hits, while Kaelber and Wedl took credit for the RBIs. Ingles and Caskey scored UIC's two runs.
• Christina Toniolo pitched the duration to take the loss, allowing six runs (two earned) off six hits in 6.0 innings of work.

Up Next

• The Flames will kick off Horizon League action on Friday, March 12 at Youngstown State.