YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The No. 3 seed UIC softball team (29-21, 23-11 HL) reclaimed the Horizon League crown on Saturday afternoon with a 4-3 win over No. 2 seed Oakland (26-16, 23-11 HL). The Flames built a 4-0 lead after the first four innings, but a pair of Golden Grizzlies runs in the top of the fifth cut the lead in half. Oakland made one final threat with a solo home run and a single in the top of the seventh, but the Flames held on to secure the one-run victory and take home their 10th Horizon League Championship and 11th conference title overall.
Game Highlights
- The Flames took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Maddie Spinks and Maica Ingles led off with walks, and they moved to second and third after a sacrifice bunt from Emma Crowley. Larisa Villa stepped in to pinch hit and batted a sacrifice fly, which was followed by an Oakland error which allowed both runners to score.
- Ingles led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to left, and a sacrifice bunt from Crowley moved her to second. Cassie Kaelber got one past the Golden Grizzlies' infield, putting Ingles on third for another sacrifice bunt, this one from Dee Dee Caskey, 4-0.
- The Golden Grizzlies strung together a trio of hits in the top of the fifth to cut the lead in half, 4-2.
- Oakland made another late threat, batting a one-out solo home run and a two-out single, but a fly ball to Spinks out in center ended the threat and tied the bow on the 4-3 Championship win for UIC.
Facts & Figures
- Oakland had the advantage in hits, 9-5. Wedl took home two hits, while Ferguson, Ingles and Kaelber combined for the remaining three.
- Ingles scored two of UIC's four runs, while Wedl and Spinks plated the remaining two.
- Ferguson, Villa and Caskey made up the Flames' three RBIs.
- Senior Marley Hanlon once again pitched the duration, dealing her ninth complete game of the season and improving to 12-5 overall. The southpaw allowed three earned runs off nine hits in her Championship performance.
- Wedl, Ingles, Ferguson, Caskey and Hanlon were all named to the All-Tournament team, with Hanlon being named the Tournament's MVP.
Beyond the Box Score
- The Flames took home their 10th Horizon League Championship and 11th conference title in program history.
- The 2021 conference crown marks the third Horizon League title in the last four years for UIC.
- The Flames have appeared in the last four-straight Championship games and have made 15 Championship appearances since their first Horizon League season in 1995.
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Up Next
- The Flames have earned the Horizon League's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament and will be making their 12th NCAA Regional appearance.
- UIC will learn its Regional destination tomorrow during the NCAA Selection show, which is set to begin at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
