CHICAGO – The UIC softball team (14-12, 11-5 HL) will wrap up its longest homestand of the season this week as they host IUPUI (7-17, 5-9 HL) in a mid-week doubleheader on Tuesday, April 6. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CT with game two to immediately follow. Fans are encouraged to watch the games on ESPN+.

LAST TIME OUT
The Flames completed a four-game sweep over Northern Kentucky this weekend, defeating the Norse 6-1 and 6-2 on Friday (April 2) before winning 7-6 and 8-3 in Saturday's (April 3) finale. Sophomore Samantha Ferguson and fifth-year senior Kayla Wedl paced the Flames at the plate in the series, batting .462 and .455 across the four games, respectively. In the circle, Marley Hanlon picked up two wins and earned a 0.00 ERA through her 8.2 innings pitched, while Christina Toniolo picked up the other two wins, giving her a team-high eight wins on the season so far.  

BRINGING OUT THE BATS
Three weeks into Horizon League play, UIC stands at fourth in the League in batting, averaging .281 at the plate as a team. The Flames also rank third in hits, tallying 193 hits a squad, and they also rank second in RBIs, driving in 122 runs this season as a team. In runs, UIC also comes in as the League's runner-up, scoring 136 total runs so far this season.   

Kayla Wedl continues to pace the Flames at the plate, batting .424 on the season to rank second in the League. Wedl's 36 hits and 25 RBI also rank second in the League, while her seven home runs land her in a tie for first in the conference. The fifth-year senior has a hefty lead on the League in runs, scoring 36 times this season, 14 more than any other player in the League.

Sophomore Samantha Ferguson comes in at fifth in the conference in batting with a .385 average on the season, and she is also tied for ninth in RBI, driving in 17 runs so far. Freshman Emma Crowley joins Wedl and Ferugson on the RBI list, tied for 11 with 16 runs driven in this year, while Junior Tara McElligott has landed herself in the League's top five in runs, crossing the plate 18 times this season.

HEATING UP THE CIRCLE
As a team, the UIC softball pitching staff owns a 3.40 earned run average, putting them at fourth in the Horizon League. Freshman Miranda Gomez leads UIC's staff with a 3.46 ERA through 62.2 innings pitched, putting her at 13th in the League. Sophomore Christina Toniolo has seen the most action, owning a 3.67 ERA through 76.1 innings pitched. Toniolo has also struck out a team-high 44 batters, a mark which stands at eighth in the conference.  

YOUNG SQUAD
UIC's 2021 squad is made up primarily of underclassmen, boasting seven freshmen and six true sophomores. First-year Flames Annmarie Sillas, Dee Dee Caskey, Isabelle Garcia, Larisa Villa, Miranda Gomez, Emma Crowley and Alyssa McIntosh have all made their UIC debuts this season, while sophomores Mary Jones, Jordyn Cebedo, Christina Toniolo, Samantha Ferguson, Alannah Cran and McKennah Ulrey are all back for their second season with the Flames after the shortened 2020 campaign.

Ferguson led the Flames last year with a .349 batting average, accumulating 22 hits, eight runs and five RBI in her freshman campaign. In the circle, Christina Toniolo paced the Flames' staff last season with a 3.12 ERA across 49.1 innings pitched in her first year with the Flames.

FAN ATTENDANCE
At present, only pre-authorized family and friends of participating UIC student-athletes and staff are permitted to be in attendance at Flames Field due to the reduced capacity allowed under State of Illinois COVID safety guidelines. Guests of visiting personnel and members of the general public are unfortunately not permitted at this time. Walk-up admission is strictly prohibited.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
IUPUI is 5-9 in Horizon League action after being swept by Youngstown State this past weekend, falling 12-7 and 3-0 on Friday and losing 7-6 and 5-0 on Saturday. As a team, the Jags rank ninth in the League in both batting and pitching, owning a .214 average at the plate and a 4.76 ERA in the circle. Jordan Barnes leads IUPUI at the plate, batting .314 on the season so far. Morgan Gilbert paces the Jags in hits, recording 21 hits in her 23 appearances. In the circle, Jennah Speth leads IUPUI with a 3.38 ERA and a 4-7 record so far, and she has fanned 60 batters this season, putting her at fourth in the conference. Fellow hurler Lexi Lucas owns a 3-6 record in the circle this season for the Jags, and she has also seen the most action, pitching 73.0 innings with a 3.64 ERA. UIC owns a 13-4 advantage in the all-time series, taking a 3-0 sweep over the Jags when the two teams last met in 2019.