CHICAGO – UIC scored early, but not often enough Wednesday as the Flames fell in a non-conference game against crosstown rival DePaul, 16-6 (6).
UIC (6-20) scored four times in the bottom of the first inning with the big blow coming on a three-run home run from freshman
Grace Fleming. DePaul (14-18) countered with a two-run shot of its own in the third inning before erupting for 10 runs in the fourth to take the lead for good.
Following a prolific day at the plate on Saturday, UIC picked right up where it left off Wednesday afternoon. The Flames scored first when
Mary Jones walked with two outs and motored all the way around on a triple off the wall from
Dee Dee Caskey. After
Alannah Cran walked to put runners at the corners, Fleming stepped in and cranked a towering blast to left-center field that cleared the wall and gave UIC a four-run cushion.
The Blue Demons halved their deficit in the top of the third. A leadoff walk in the frame would come around to score on a two-run home run off the bat of
Maranda Gutierrez.
DePaul gained its first lead by scoring 10 times in the top of the fourth. The Blue Demons sent 14 batters to the dish and knocked out six hits against four different UIC pitchers in the frame.
Tori Meyer doubled twice and drove in three of her team's tallies.
The Flames came back to life offensively in the bottom of the fifth. It was Caskey who kicked off the rally with her second extra-base hit of the day, a double to right-center field. Cran then brought her home with a base hit to right field before
Isabelle Garcia delivered a two-out RBI single up the middle.
The Blue Demons would score three more times in the top of sixth, marking their fourth consecutive inning with at least one run. UIC stranded two on base in the bottom of the stanza, but could not score to extend the game.
Notes:
- Grace Fleming's first-inning home run was the first of her collegiate career. She is the fourth Flame to go deep this season joining Tara McElligott (6), Jordyn Cebedo (1) and Hailey Cowing (1).
- Dee Dee Caskey leads the Flames with three triples this season. As a team the Flames have registered four triples in the last three games.
- Caskey recorded her third multi-hit game of the season Wednesday.
- Maica Ingles has reached safely in a team-high five consecutive games.
- The Flames were charged with at least three defensive errors for the ninth time this season and the fourth time in the last six games.
Up Next:
- UIC will remain at Flames Field this weekend to host Green Bay in a three-game Horizon League series.
- Originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, the teams will now play a doubleheader as scheduled on Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m., and finish the series on Sunday, April 10 at 1 p.m.
- Saturday is Alumnae Day at Flames Field. To RSVP, please visit uicflam.es/sbalum22
- The 2021 Horizon League championship team will receive rings during a ceremony between games on Saturday, as well.
