TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2024) – The UIC softball team (0-7) came close to victories in both of its games on Thursday at USF's Fonesca Memorial Tournament, but fell 5-4 in 11 innings against Power Five opponent Boston College, before dropping a 4-1 decision to the host Bulls.
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH LYNN CURYLO
"We had many opportunities to get a win today and fell short. Our team is showing signs of grit, which is a good thing. We just need to finish the job."
GAME ONE (BC - 5-4, 11 innings)
- Graduate student Christina Toniolo (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) engaged in an early pitcher's duel with Boston College's Halie Pappion, allowing just one hit, striking out three and not walking a single batter through three innings.
- After the Eagles plated four runs in the top of the fifth, the Flames responded by putting three runs of their own on the board. The rally started with freshman Siena Stickney (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capo Valley) collecting her second collegiate RBI on a fielder's choice. Hailey Cowing (Torrance, Calif./West Torrance) then drove in fellow junior Grace Fleming (Long Beach, Calif./Millikan) on another fielder's choice in the inning. Stickney then scored on a passed ball that pulled UIC within 4-3.
- In the very next inning, graduate student Alannah Cran (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard) took a 1-0 pitch out to right field for a base hit. After Cran stole second, junior Emma Gumont (Warren, Ohio/Notre Dame College) drove an RBI single to center, tying the game at 4-4.
- Redshirt junior Alyssa McIntosh (Lancaster, Calif./Lancaster) entered the circle for the Flames in the sixth inning and allowed just two hits in her first two innings of work (she would finish with two strikeouts and a walk in six innings of relief). After the Flames' offense remained quiet in the bottom of the seventh, the game went into extra innings and used the international tiebreaker rule (placing a runner on second base to start each added frame).
- The Flames had many opportunities to win the game in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings with a runner on third, but failed to score. Boston College finally scratched out a run in the top of the 11th on a sacrifice fly and the Flames were not able to answer in the bottom of the frame.
GAME TWO (USF - 4-1)
- In the circle for the Flames was graduate student Carlee Jo Clark (Carol Stream, Ill./Southern Illinois), who held the Bulls to two hits with three strikeouts in her first four innings.
- The Flames were first to get on the board in the top of the fifth when senior first baseman Larisa Villa (La Habra, Calif./La Habra) opened the inning by legging out a triple. She later scored on a squeeze bunt from Stickney to give UIC a hard-earned 1-0 lead.
- A handful of defensive errors mounted for Clark and the Flames in the sixth inning, as USF scored all four of its runs.
- UIC aimed to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, when Gumont reached base with a two-out single, but Villa popped out to right field to end the game.
- Clark finished the game in the circle for the Flames, pitching six innings, striking out five and walking two batters.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- Fleming and Cran each had a team-high two hits on the day, with each getting their pair of hits against Boston College.
- After her fifth-inning triple against USF, Villa now leads the Flames with two extra-base hits during this young season.
- The Flames are 3-6 in their last nine extra-inning games, dating back to the start of last season.
UP NEXT FOR THE FLAMES!
The Flames return to USF Softball Stadium Friday for day two of the USF Fonseca Memorial Tournament. UIC will first face off against Hofstra at 8 a.m. (CT), followed by Purdue (3-2) at 10:30 a.m. (CT). Live stats will be available at
UICFlames.com.
For more information, fans are encouraged to visit
UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (
@UIC_Softball and
@UICFlames) and Instagram (
@uic_softball and
@uicflames).
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