INDIANAPOLIS – The UIC softball team (25-17, 22-10 HL) started off its final Horizon League series of the regular season on high note, defeating IUPUI (11-28, 9-20 HL) twice on Friday. The Flames soundly took game one, 11-2, behind a multi-home run game for fifth-year senior Kayla Wedl and outlasted the Jaguars in an extra-inning battle in game two, 3-2 (8), thanks to a solo home run from Tara McElligott to lead off the eighth inning.  

Game One Highlights

• The Flames scored in their first at bat, as Wedl drew a leadoff walk, stole second, took third on a ground out and scored on a single from Samantha Ferguson, 1-0.
• UIC added to its lead in its next at bat as Alannah Cran drew a bases-loaded walk and Dee Dee Caskey scored on a wilk pitch, 3-0.
• Another run crossed the plate for the Flames in the top of the third after Maica Ingles reached on a fielder's choice and came in to score on a single off the bat of Cassie Kaelber, 4-0.
• Wedl batted her 11th home run of the season in the top of the fourth to further extend UIC's lead, 5-0.
• The Jaguars got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs off two singles and a triple, 5-2.
• The Flames got both runs back in the top of the sixth. Emma Crowley led off with a double and Wedl walked and stole second, putting two runners in scoring position for Cran, who singled through the right side to score them both, 7-2.
• UIC tacked on four more runs in its final at bat, all with two outs. Larisa Villa stepped in to pinch hit and singled through the left side. Isabelle Garcia and Caskey followed with back-to-back doubles, scoring two runs, 9-2. Wedl stepped up to the plate next and sent her second home run of the day over the fence in right, putting the Flames up by nine heading into the bottom of the seventh, 11-2.
• The Jags batted a trio of singles in the bottom of the seventh, but the Flames defense prevented either runner from scoring to secure the 11-2 win.

Game One Facts & Figures

• The two teams tallied an even 13 hits. Wedl led on the day with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, while Caskey also turned in a multi-hit showing with two hits. Cran, Ferguson, McElligott, Maddie Spinks, Cassie Kaelber, Villa, Crowley and Garcia each recorded one hit.
• Wedl and Cran drove in three runs apiece, while Ferguson, Kaelber, Garcia and Caskey drove in one run each.
• Wedl crossed the plate four times to lead the Flames. Ingles, Garcia and Caskey each scored twice, while Kaelber scored once.
• Marley Hanlon got the start and pitched the duration to earn the win, improving to 8-4 on the season. The lefty struck out a career-high seven in the win, allowing two earned runs off 13 hits in 7.0 innings of work.

Game Two Highlights

• UIC jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Ferguson singled, Kaelber reached on an error and Crowley moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt for Wedl, who singled through the left side to score them both.
• The Jags cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a run off two hits and an error, 2-1.
• IUPUI brought the game to a tie at two in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run off a pair of singles.
• McElligott quickly broke the tie in the top of the eighth, leading off the inning with a solo home run to put the Flames back in the lead, 3-2.
• IUPUI went down in order in the bottom of the eighth to hand the Flames the 3-2 extra-inning win.

Game Two Facts & Figures

• The two teams were once again even in hits, batting seven apiece. Cran and Ferguson led for UIC with two hits each, while Wedl, McElligott and Spinks combined for the remaining three.
• Wedl led with two RBIs, followed by McElligott with one.
• McElligott, McKennah Ulrey and Kaelber scored UIC's three runs
• Christina Toniolo pitched all 8.0 innings to earn the win, improving to 12-5 on the season. The sophomore allowed two runs, one earned, off seven hits while striking out four.

Up Next

• UIC will close out its series at IUPUI tomorrow with another doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.