UIC softball (3-12) returns to action on Thursday, Mar. 10, to face off against the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (1-14). Due to weather concerns, the Flames and Mastodons have pushed the games to Thursday and Friday. This will be the Flames' first go against a Horizon League opponent this season. 

The Flames will face Purdue Fort Wayne in the opening game of the series on Thursday, Mar. 10, at 11 a.m. Game two is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Game three is scheduled to be held on Friday, Mar. 11, at 10:00 a.m., but the game time will officially be decided on Friday.

UIC is coming off an extra-innings 1-0 victory over Army on Mar. 6 in Tampa, Fla. Sophomore pitcher Alyssa McIntosh pitched a gem, tossing an eight-inning complete game shutout. McIntosh's efforts warranted the Horizon League pitcher of the week award. In her eight innings, McIntosh allowed only four hits, struck out five, and held batters to a 1.43 batting average. 

On offense, the Flames were led by Isabelle Garcia, who sealed the victory with a walk-off bloop single into no-mans-land. Garcia's single scored the winning run in Grace Fleming, finalizing McIntosh's first-career victory. Tara McElligott and Larisa Villa both hit for a .286 average on the weekend, with McElligott notching an RBI.

Purdue Fort Wayne is on a six-game losing streak heading into Thursday's games. The Mastodons most recently faced off against Maryland Eastern Shore, where they fell 9-0 to the Hawks. The Mastodons' standout on offense is Taryn Jenkins, an infielder who is slashing .292/.393/.333 in her 13 games played. The pitching staff is led by Gracie Brinkerhoff, who has played in eight games for the Mastodons this season. Brinkerhoff holds an 11.02 ERA and holds a 1-5 record on the season.

The first pitch of the series is scheduled for Thursday, Mar. 10, at 11 a.m.