MOON TOWNSHIP, PA. – The UIC softball team (17-13, 14-6 HL) shared day one of its four-game set with Horizon League newcomer Robert Morris (17-11, 12-8 HL) on Friday, extending its win streak to seven games with a 6-5 win in game one off a pair of sacrifice flies in the seventh but coming up short in game two after the Colonials batted a pair of solo home runs in the bottom of the third, 2-1.  

Game One Highlights

• The Flames got on the board first, scoring four runs in the top of the second. Tara McElligott led off the inning with a walk, Maica Ingles was hit by a pitch and Cassie Kaelber batted an infield single to load the bases for Maddie Spinks, who sent one up the middle to score McElligott and Ingles, 2-0. Dee Dee Caskey followed with a sacrifice fly, and Kayla Wedl finished out the inning with a triple, which scored Spinks from third, 4-0.
• Robert Morris made their reply in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs off four hits, a double steal and a pair of UIC errors, tying the game at four.
• The Colonials broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth with a bases-loaded foul out, which allowed the runner from third to tag and score, 5-4.
• The Flames took back the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Larissa Villa stepped in to pinch hit and led off the inning with a single, and was replaced on the bags by the re-entering Caskey. Wedl followed with a double, putting runners at second and third for Samantha Ferguson, who put a sacrifice fly out to deep left, plating Caskey and tying the game at five. Emma Crowley stepped up to bat next and flied out to center, which allowed Wedl to tag up and score and put the Flames back in the lead, 6-5.
• Reliever Marley Hanlon made quick work of the Colonials in the bottom of the seventh, forcing RMU into a pair of grounders and a line out to secure the 6-5 win for the Flames.  

Game One Facts & Figures

• Robert Morris had the advantage in hits, 8-6. Wedl led for UIC with a pair of hits, extending her reached-base streak to 21 games. Alannah Cran, Kaelber, Spinks and Villa made up the Flames' remaining hits.
• Spinks led the way with a pair of RBIs on the day, while Wedl, Ferguson, Crowley and Caskey each drove in a run of their own.
• Wedl, McElligott, Ingles, Kaelber, Spinks and Caskey scored UIC's six runs.
• Christina Toniolo got the start in the circle and pitched 5.0 innings, allowing five runs, two of which were earned, off seven hits. Hanlon pitched the final 2.0 innings and retired all six batters she faced in order to earn the win and improve to 4-1 on the season.

Game Two Highlights

• Robert Morris batted a pair of solo home runs in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 lead.
• The Flames cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth. Wedl led off with a single, moved to second on a ground out from Ferguson and scored on an error forced by Crowley, 2-1.
• UIC threatened in its final at bat, as Spinks was hit by a pitch and Caskey singled with two outs, but the Colonials forced a ground out to end the threat and take the 2-1 win.

Game Two Facts & Figures

• Robert Morris once again had the advantage in hits, 6-5. Wedl led the way again with another multi-hit performance, collecting two hits and extending her reached-base streak to 22 games. Ferguson, McElligott and Caskey made up UIC's remaining tabs.
• Wedl also scored UIC's lone run.
• Alyssa McIntosh started in the circle and took the loss, allowing two earned runs off four hits in 2.2 innings. Hanlon came on again in relief and pitched the remaining 3.1 innings, allowing no runs and just two hits.

Up Next

• The Flames and Colonials will wrap up the four-game set tomorrow with another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. CT.