CHICAGO – UIC fell in the opening game of a doubleheader on a crisp spring day at Flames Field, 9-2, before bouncing back to knock off Green Bay in the second contest, 3-1.
Tara McElligott homered in the nightcap, while
Carlee Jo Clark went the distance in the circle to notch her first Horizon League victory of the season for UIC (7-21, 4-8 Horizon League).
Green Bay (15-16, 7-4 Horizon League) scored the first seven runs in game one, including two in the second and four more in the third, for an early lead. The Flames fought scratched out a pair of their own in the bottom of the fourth, but that was all they could get in the opener.
Game 2 Recap
After
Carlee Jo Clark got an inning-ending double play for the Flames in the top of the first, the bats got going quickly in the second game of the twin bill.
Tara McElligott cracked a towering home run to left field for a solo blast that gave UIC a quick 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Clark started things off at the dish and helped her own cause by flipping a triple to right field. The next two Flames grounded out without bringing Clark home and then McElligott walked ahead of
Mary Jones. The designated player worked a lengthy at-bat before eventually lacing a base hit back through the middle to score Clark and double UIC's lead. The next batter,
Dee Dee Caskey, reached on a fielding error by the Green Bay shortstop and McElligott alertly scampered all the way around for another tally and a 3-0 lead.
The Phoenix opened the top of the fourth with back-to-back hits before a run scored on a throwing error committed by UIC. Clark limited the damage by getting Green Bay to ground into its third inning-ending double play in the first four innings of play.
The Flames stranded a runner in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, however, they could not add to the 3-1 lead.
Green Bay recorded a one-out double in the top of the seventh before a batter was hit to give the Phoenix two on and one out. Green Bay called for a sacrifice bunt and
Maica Ingles made a great defensive play to get the ball to
Isabelle Garcia covering first for the second out. Clark then got a game-ending grounder to
Larisa Villa at shortstop to vault the Flames back into the win column.
Game 1 Recap
The Phoenix hung a pair of runs on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning. A bases-loaded single brought in the first run before a walk with the sacks packed pushed the lead to two.
Isabelle Garcia snagged a line drive from her position at second base to limit any further damage and end the inning.
Trailing by seven, the Flames finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth by scoring a pair of runs to trim the deficit.
Tara McElligott was hit by a pitch to begin the frame before
Mary Jones shot a single through the right side. Jones advanced to second on the throw to set up a pair in scoring position.
Dee Dee Caskey came up and placed a bunt back to Green Bay's pitcher and a moment of indecisiveness led to an errant flip back to the dish and both UIC runners scored. Caskey would be stranded on second base.
The Phoenix tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth Flames could not muster much offense the rest of the way.
Notes
- Tara McElligott's solo home run in game two was her seventh of the season. She is two shy of matching her season high (9), done in both 2019 and 2021.
- Carlee Jo Clark's complete game in the second contest was her second as a member of the Flames. She also went the distance in the season opener against Cal Poly on Feb. 11.
- The Flames turned a season-high three double plays in game two. The infield trio of Larisa Villa, Isabelle Garcia and Tara McElligott turned all three Saturday.
- UIC won for the fifth time this season in games decided by one or two runs.
- Maica Ingles drew a walk in both games and has now reached safely in seven straight contests for the Flames
- Miranda Gomez threw 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts to finish off game one.
- McElligott, Mary Jones and Dee Dee Caskey each posted two hits apiece in the doubleheader.
- In between games Saturday, members of the 2021 Horizon League Championship team received their commemorative rings.
- UIC welcomed nearly 50 alumnae and guests to Flames Field Saturday.
