NORMAL, Ill. – The UIC softball team (0-28, 0-6 MVC) returns to the road this weekend, when they take on Illinois State (14-15, 4-1 MVC) beginning on Saturday at 4 p.m.
The series will conclude with a doubleheader on Sunday, with first pitch of game one scheduled at 1 p.m. Make sure to stay up-to-date on live stats and all news on the series at the @
UIC_Softball's Twitter page.
MATCH UP BREAKDOWN
- This will be the first time since 2013 that the Flames and the Redbirds have competed on the diamond. Illinois State won in that match-up back Feb. 17 of that year at the Littlewood Classic out in Tempe, Az., 16-8.
- The Flames have led in the series overall, 6-3. They also have won in three of the last five meetings against the Redbirds.
- Illinois State is in third place right now in the MVC, having gone 4-1 against conference opponents. They swept Valparaiso (3-22, 0-6 MVC) over the last weekend and split the two games they managed to play against Belmont (17-12, 3-3 MVC) around Saint Patrick's Day.
- Sophomore Delainey Bryant has had a strong showing at the plate for the Redbirds, hitting .345 from the plate, tied for first in RBIs on the team with 19.
- Senior Dayna Kennedy just was named as the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week last week after batting .700 against Valparaiso and driving in seven runs.
- Freshman Hannah Meeks also was recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week for her efforts in the circle after only allowing one hit to the Beacons on Sunday to pitch a complete game, and her second one-hit performance of the season.
MAICA'S MAKIN' NOISE
- Redshirt senior Maica Ingles has hit her offensive stride this past week, going .421 against #20 Northwestern and UNI.
- She led the team during the week with hits with eight and has a hit in four of the last five games.
- With 15 hits to her name, Ingles is now tied with junior Anna Walker to lead the team in hits.
- Ingles also leads the team in stolen bases, having gone 5-for-6 on the base path this season.
LET'S GO CARLEE JO!
- Senior Carlee Jo Clark's power came into play last week when she crushed a ball over the left field fence for her first homerun of the season.
- She is the leader in batting average this season at .245.
- Clark is also tied for third with hits (12) and RBIs (6) for the Flames this season.
- In the circle, Clark has had 17 appearances for the Flames, striking out 26 batters in 53.1 innings pitched this season.
COWING POWER
- Sophomore Hailey Cowing smacked a ball into dead center against #20 Northwestern last Tuesday for her second homerun of the season.
- Cowing leads the team in RBIs this season with seven and total bases with 21.
- She is currently sporting a .356 slugging percentage, second to only Clark on the Flames
TONIOLO-ING THE RUBBER
- Senior Christina Toniolo just made her 20th appearance in the circle over the weekend, leading the Flames this season.
- She has struck out 40 batters this season for UIC, in over 77.2 innings pitched this season.
- Six of those batters Toniolo struck out came in the past week including three in the series finale against Indiana State.
