MIAMI (Feb. 29, 2024) – The UIC softball team (4-11) returns to the Sunshine State for the third consecutive weekend as it competes in the FIU Classic Friday through Sunday at Felsberg Field in Miami.
 
The Flames will clash with host FIU, North Dakota, and Seton Hall during their first three games. The tournament will then be re-seeded based on those opening-round games to set up matchups for the final two games of the event.
 
None of UIC's first three tournament games will be streamed on ESPN+. However, should the Flames face FIU a second time during the tournament, that game would be streamed at 10:30 a.m. (CT) Sunday.  Live stats for all games will be available to stream on UICFlames.com.
 
UIC AT THE FIU CLASSIC
Where: Felsberg Field (Miami, Fla.)
When: Friday-Sunday, March 1-3
Tickets: FIUTickets.com
 
SCHEDULE
Friday, March 1
vs. North Dakota (9 a.m. CT)
at FIU (11:30 a.m. CT)
Saturday, March 2
vs. Seton Hall (9 a.m. CT)
vs. TBD
Sunday, March 3
vs. TBD
 
SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA

• This will be the first time since 2015 that UIC and North Dakota have met on the diamond. The Flames hold a 4-1 series over the Fighting Hawks, winning two of the last three meetings.
• North Dakota couldn't find a win last weekend at New Mexico State's Troy Cox Classic and is in search of its first win since Feb. 17, a 7-6 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne at the UTEP Invitational.
• Boasting a .293 batting average, senior Izzy Haslett has collected a dozen hits this season and has scored three runs.

 
SCOUTING FIU

• The Flames are set to compete against host FIU for the first time in more than 12 years. The Panthers have a slight edge in the overall series, 6-5. UIC aims to collect its first victory against FIU since a 3-2 victory in the Clearwater Parks and Recreation Tournament in March 2000.
• FIU sports an 8-10 record after falling at FAU, 8-3 on Wednesday afternoon.
• Senior Bailey Grossenbacher and junior Ashton Lansdell each collected a home run against the Owls.

 
SCOUTING SETON HALL

• UIC and Seton Hall will play for the first time since 2009, with the Flames holding a 2-1 advantage in the abbreviated series.
• The Pirates have begun the season with a 3-6 record, defeating Maine, New Mexico State and Utah Valley during the first three weekends of non-conference tournament play.
• Seton Hall sits atop the Big East Conference this season with a .297 team batting average. The Pirates have collected 30 total hits this season, with six of them being doubles.

 
LAST TIME OUT: T-MOBILE TOURNAMENT

• UIC competed in Florida's T-Mobile Tournament at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., going 3-2 last weekend with a pair of wins against Lafayette, and a 5-3 tournament-opening victory against Colgate.
• Graduate student Carlee Jo Clark (Carol Stream, Ill./Southern Illinois) collected a team-high seven hits last weekend, including the Flames' first home run of the season. She also earned a complete game victory in the circle against Lafayette, only allowing four hits, one earned run and striking out four.
• Freshman Cameran Rios (Effingham, Ill./St. Anthony) batted .400 at the T-Mobile Tournament, posting four hits in five games. The rookie also came through in the clutch for the Flames in the Feb. 23 win over Lafayette with a walk-off double to give UIC the 7-6 victory.
• Senior Larisa Villa (La Habra, Calif./La Habra) tallied six hits at the T-Mobile Tournament and is now second on the team with a .311 batting average this season.

 
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