TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2024) – Even a half hour rain delay couldn't stop graduate student
Christina Toniolo (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) from pushing the UIC softball team (1-9) to victory against Hofstra in the finale at USF's Fonseca Memorial Tournament Saturday afternoon.
Toniolo threw a complete game, pitching all seven innings, striking out five, allowing one run and walking one batter in Saturday's victory.
Senior
Larisa Villa (La Habra, Calif/La Habra) went one-for-three in the game, with a three RBI from a double and a sacrifice fly. Junior
Larissa Ortiz (Romeoville, Ill./Wisconsin) knocked in two RBI, finishing the game going one-for-four in the batter's box.
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH LYNN CURYLO
"Our team executed on both sides of the ball!
Christina Toniolo dominated Hofstra's hitters. Offensively, our team worked great together to get the job done."
COMMENT FROM GRADUATE STUDENT PITCHER CHRISTINA TONIOLO
"I'm so proud of this team. Every single girl contributed to the win today and I'm excited to bring this into next weekend."
GAME RECAP
- After Hofstra started off the bottom of the first with a runner in scoring position the Flames got out of the inning behind a strikeout from Toniolo, a pop out to senior Anna Walker (Burnside, Ill./Parkland College) in right field and a groundout to freshman shortstop Siena Stickney (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capo Valley)
- Junior Grace Fleming (Long Beach, Calif./Millikan) collected the Flames first hit in the top of the third inning but was left stranded at first base after three consecutive pop outs ended the inning.
- Toniolo finished the Pride quickly in back-to-back innings between the third and fourth innings, striking out two in the process while not allowing a single hit.
- The Flames broke the game open after Ortiz stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the fifth. Ortiz connected on a 2-0 pitch down the middle for a single to score Fleming and graduate student Alannah Cran (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard). That was soon followed by Villa's sacrifice fly, scoring graduate student Carlee Jo Clark (Carol Stream, Calif./Southern Illinois) before the inning was over to give UIC a 3-0 lead.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Hofstra found themselves with Mackenzie Fitsgerald 60 feet away when Chelsea Manto poked a single past third base. Fitzgerald attempted to score but was thrown out when Villa threw a rocket to Ortiz covering the plate, making the tag in time.
- Hofstra's lone run of the game came behind a fielder's choice before the game was paused due to a rain delay. The Flames responded immediately after the delay with two more insurance runs coming off the bat of Villa, who doubled to right-center field to score Fleming and Cran.
- In her final inning in the circle, Toniolo relied on her defense, with all three of the final outs happening in play to secure the win.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- With four RBI in the season, Villa has now tied her total in both her sophomore and junior seasons with the Flames.
- This is Toniolo's first complete game since April 22, w hen she led the Flames to victory against Evansville.
- Fleming finished the weekend sporting a .429 batting average, collecting six hits over the past five games. She now has the team-leading batting average after two weeks of play, batting .370.
UP NEXT FOR THE FLAMES
The Flames continue to play in the state of Florida, traveling to Gainesville to compete in the T-Mobile Tournament, hosted by No. 16 Florida. The three-day tournament runs from Friday-Saturday, Feb. 23-25. Live stats will be available throughout the tournament at
UICFlames.com. Â No games will be available to stream, but UIC's game against the Gators will have a radio live stream at
FloridaGators.com.
For more information, fans are encouraged to visitÂ
UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (
@UIC_Softball andÂ
@UICFlames) and Instagram (
@uic_softball andÂ
@uicflames).
#ChicagosCollegeTeam | #FireUpFlames
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