CHICAGO – The UIC softball team (0-27, 0-5 MVC) couldn't fend off UNI (16-9, 5-0 MVC) in their home-opening double header at Flames Field on Friday. They fell to the Panthers 8-1 and 9-1.

GAME ONE

• The Flames collectively earned seven hits in the first game, highlighted by a 2-for-4 game from red shirt senior Maica Ingles.
• This was the third multi-hit game in over five games, having bat .466 over that span.
• Senior Jordyn Cebedo began the bottom of the fourth with a base hit to center field. Freshman Tess Altevers-Harris came in to pinch run for Cebedo, she scored on a base hit from Ingles to give the Flames their first RBI of the game.
• Hits also came off the bats of juniors Anna Walker (1-for-3), Dee Dee Caskey (1-for-1), sophomores Hailey Cowing (1-for-3) and Jojo Santiago (1-for-3).
• Time was split up in the circle between Senior Christina Toniolo and junior Miranda Gomez. Toniolo started the game for UIC, throwing 3.1 innings with two strikeouts.
• Gomez finished the game, pitching 3.2 innings with two strikeouts and zero walks to her name.

GAME TWO

• After both Ingles and Walker started the game on base due to Panther's errors, senior Carlee Jo Clark doubled into left center, scoring Ingles and giving UIC a 1-0 lead.
• Clark has four hits in the last four games, with one homerun and two RBIs.
• Clark started in the circle for the Flames and pitched 4.1 innings, striking out a season-high six batters in the game.
• Toniolo came in for relief midway through the fourth inning, forcing the Panthers to two ground outs to end the inning.

SUNDAY SHOWDOWN
The three-game series is set to conclude on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. Fans can stream the game on ESPN+ or listening to the Flames Network.