HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The UIC offense broke out in a big way Saturday as the Flames scored 19 times over two games to emphatically sweep a doubleheader at Northern Kentucky, winning the first game 7-4 and the night cap, 12-1.

Tara McElligott went deep twice in the opener, while three batters had multi-hit efforts for UIC (6-19, 3-7 Horizon League). In the second game of the twin bill, the Flames used a five-run output in the top of the third inning, another blast from McElligott, and solid defense the rest of the way to ultimately put the game out of reach.

Game 1 Recap
The Flames went to work right away in the top of the first inning. After producing a career-high three hits on Friday, Maica Ingles opened the contest with a base hit to right field. Then McElligott stepped up and cranked her fourth home run of the season to give UIC a quick 2-0 lead.

The Norse got one back in the bottom of the second when Maddie Lacer hit a solo home run to lead off the frame. UIC starting pitcher Alyssa McIntosh stranded two NKU runners in scoring position as the inning ended to keep the Flames in front.

The offense took over again to open the third. Ingles hit her second triple of the season before McElligott won a lengthy at-bat against Alicia Flores and punctuated it by obliterating the eighth offering to the parking lot in left field for her second home run in as many plate appearances to push UIC's lead to three runs at 4-1.

UIC padded the lead once more in the fourth inning. Dee Dee Caskey hustled her way aboard with a bunt single and found herself on second base after a wild pitch. The sophomore later stole third base. Isabelle Garcia struck out but reached safely on a wild pitch and shortly after swiped second base. After two big strikeouts for the Norse, Ingles delivered some two-out heroics when she hustled down the line to beat out the NKU defense and allow both runners to come home, putting the Flames in front, 6-1.

The sixth inning saw both teams add to their run totals. Larisa Villa's RBI single brought Caskey home after she tripled with one gone in the top of the inning. The Norse had one run in and the bases loaded with one out when UIC called upon Christina Toniolo in relief. The junior induced a fielder's choice and prevented a run for the second out, but an error on the infield during the next at-bat allowed two runs to come in and pull Northern Kentucky within three. Toniolo got another ground ball, this one to Ingles at third base, to end the inning and limit the damage.

Game 2 Recap
UIC used a two-run opening inning in game two to set the tone once again. Instead of a home run this time around, it was an RBI single off the bat of Mary Jones and a sacrifice bunt from Caskey that led to the early scores.

The Flames padded the lead with a prolific five-run output in the top of the third. Grace Fleming, Jojo Santiago and Ingles had RBI singles in the stanza, while Garcia clubbed a run-scoring double for UIC to take a 2-1 lead to a 7-1 advantage.

The Norse threatened to do some damage in their half of the fifth by loading the bases with nobody against Toniolo, the game two starter. After a fielder's choice accounted for the first out, Villa snagged a line drive at shortstop and UIC doubled off an NKU baserunner for the third out to keep the lead at six.

UIC put an exclamation point on its offensive outburst in the top of the seventh. Garcia laced her third hit of the day, an RBI single, before Ingles brought home two more with a base hit of her own. Then McElligott did what she had done twice prior on the day and she crushed another home run to left field to give the Flames an 11-run lead.

Notes:

• The Flames won back-to-back games for the first time this season on Saturday.
• UIC improved to 16-3 all-time against Northern Kentucky and 5-1 in Highland Heights.
• The Flames registered season highs in runs (12) and hits (15) finale. It was the first time scoring at least 12 runs since April 17, 2021 against Cleveland State.
• Eight of nine hitters to bat in game two had at least one hit and six of them had at least two. Isabelle Garcia had a career-high three hits. It was the first multi-hit game of her career.
• The Flames scored 19 times in two games Saturday after averaging 2.25 runs in the previous four triumphs.
• Christina Toniolo had the save in game one and the complete-game victory on game two. The junior allowed only three earned runs in 14.2 innings pitched in the series.
• Tara McElligott produced her second multi-home run game of the season in the opener. She also accomplished the feat at San Diego State on Feb. 12.
• McElligott's first-inning blast in game one marked the 25^th of her career. It also broke a streak of four consecutive games without a long ball for the Flames.
• Maica Ingles matched a career high with three hits in game one, accomplishing the feat for the second time in as many games at Northern Kentucky. Ingles batted .667 with eight hits, three RBI and four runs scored in the series.
• Carlee Jo Clark registered a season-high four strikeouts in her 3.1 innings of relief in game one.
• Mary Jones turned in the second multi-hit game of her career on Saturday in game two. It was her first time with two hits in a game this season.
• With two wins on the day, head coach Lynn Curylo stands at 148 as UIC's skipper and 295 in her career.

Up Next:

• UIC will return to Flames Field on Wednesday, April 6 to host a crosstown matchup against DePaul at 4 p.m.
• The Blue Demons will be visiting Flames Field for the first time during the regular season since April 26, 2017, a 1-0 victory for UIC.
• The homestand will continue April 8-9 with a visit from Green Bay for a three-game series. April 9 will be Alumnae Day.