FORT WAYNE, Ind. - UIC softball (3-14, 0-2 Horizon) fell on the opening day of the series to Purdue Fort Wayne (3-14, 2-0 Horizon). The Flames dropped game one, 6-3, and game two, 8-7. UIC will be back tomorrow for game three at 1:00 p.m. CST.

GAME ONE
Christina Toniolo started the opening game of the Horizon League series against the Mastodons. Toniolo tossed a great first three innings, allowing no hits. The junior amassed four strikeouts by the end of the third inning.

In the fourth inning, Purdue Fort Wayne caught fire. Toniolo sat down the first two batters faced, but the Mastodons started a rally. After a pair of singles and a hit-by-pitch, Sonia Solis hit a grand slam to take the lead. 

In the sixth, UIC started a rally with a single by Alannah Cran and a walk by Samantha Ferguson. Jordyn Cebedo stepped up to the plate, found her pitch, and smashed the ball out of the park to pull the Flames within one run: her first homer of her career. 

The Mastodons added one insurance run in the form of a home run. UIC was unable to come back. The Flames fell to Purdue Fort Wayne, 5-3 in the opening game.

GAME TWO
The Flames started the second game of the season off hot, with a lead-off single from Maica Ingles. Ferguson followed up with a single of her own to put runners on first and second. Cebedo reached on a fielder's choice with Ferguson out at second and Ingles on third base. Hailey Cowing scored Ingles on a bunt to put UIC up early. 

The Mastodons fought back in second, scoring two runs of their own. Purdue Fort Wayne led off the inning with a homer, following it up with a double and a single to score the second run.

The Flames added two unearned runs in the third inning of play. Ingles and Cowing both scored on an error by the Mastodons.

Purdue Fort Wayne reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning after a walk, which was immediately followed by a homer. 

UIC did the bulk of their damage in the fifth inning, scoring four runs on four hits. Cebedo led off the inning with a walk that brought up Cowing. Cowing notched her first career home run with a blast over the left-field wall. Fellow freshman Grace Fleming smoked a double down the right-field line. Isabelle Garcia hit a single into right-center to put runners on first and third. Larisa Villa followed it up, reaching on an error by the Mastodon's second basemen, scoring Fleming. Jojo Santiago topped the rally off with a double that scored Garcia. 

 The Mastodons took the lead in the sixth inning with their second grand slam of the day, giving Purdue Fort Wayne the game-winning run. The Flames were unable to get a rally going in the final inning, falling 8-7 in game two.

UIC is scheduled to finish the series tomorrow, Mar. 11, at 1:00 p.m. CST, pending any weather delays.