CHICAGO – The UIC softball team (0-32, 0-10 MVC) remain at Flames Field this weekend when it hosts Belmont (18-14, 4-5 MVC) beginning on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will be stream on ESPN+. Fans can also listen to the game live on the Flame Network.

MATCH UP BREAKDOWN

• These programs haven't played since March of 2019, at Belmont's Invitational. Facing off twice, the Flames started the weekend with a 1-0 victory. The Bruins responded the next day with a 5-0 win to end the weekend.
• The Bruins held a 2-1 lead in the series with a win in their other meeting against the Flames, 8-1. 
• Belmont has been around the .500 mark since entering Missouri Valley Conference play. They have wins against Illinois State, Evansville, and Southern Illinois.
• Redshirt freshman Kristen Green (.356) and sophomore Emily Cockrill (.315) have had strong seasons at the plate. Green has the second-most RBIs on the team with 15. Cockrill leads the Bruins in hits with 34.
• Redshirt freshman Maya Johnson has seen the most action in the circle for Belmont. She already has 101.0 innings under her belt with a 2.21 ERA. She has also struck out 160 batters.

MAICA MAKIN' NOISE

• Redshirt senior Maica Ingles continues to get on base for the Flames.
• She has landed 11 hits over the past eight games, dating back to the game against Northwestern on Mar. 21.
• Ingles has also gotten on base nine out of the past ten games for the Flames.
• She leads the team in hits (21), third on the team in runs (six) and fourth in batting average (.231).

LET'S GO CARLEE JO!

• Senior Carlee Jo Clark has hit her offensive stride in the past week, landing nine hits in the past eight games.
• Five of those hits came against Illinois State last weekend. She batted .625 against the Redbirds, including her second homerun of the season.
• She leads the team in batting average (.281) and second on the team in hits (18). Clark also has a team-leading five doubles.

ANNA'S AWESOMENESS

• Junior Anna Walker has become a fixture for the Flames just midway through her first season.
• She has played in all 32 games for the Flames this season, and currently sports a .228 batting average.
• Four of her last six RBIs came in the past two games, with a three-run homerun against Illinois State and the Flames lone RBI against Valparaiso on Tuesday.
• Walker is the leader in runs scored for the Flames with nine.

TONIOLO-ING THE RUBBER

• Senior Christina Toniolo had another strong outing in the circle against Valparaiso. She threw 5.0 inning, striking out four batters and not allowing a run in a relief appearance.
• Alongside junior Miranda Gomez, her and Toniolo struck out seven batters, which was a season-high in a game for the Flames this season.
• Toniolo has thrown 88.1 innings so far this season, 46 strikeouts and four complete games to her name.

ADDITIONAL INFO ON SERIES

• Peter Ferreri and Kacy Standohar will be on the call for the game on Thursday. Standohar will be with us for the entire series and will be joined by Terry Bonadonna doing play-by-play on Friday and Saturday.
• Friday's first pitch is also scheduled for 5 p.m. The series concludes Saturday with a noon start time.
• Come join the fun before Saturday's game to partake in the Dragon Egg Hunt! Fans are welcomed to come find Sparky's Eggs and win prizes.