MIAMI (March 1, 2024) – The UIC softball team (5-12) opened the FIU Classic with a thrilling, come-from-behind 4-3 victory over North Dakota before the Flames fell to the host Panthers, 5-0 Friday afternoon at Felsberg Field in Miami.
 
Graduate student designated player/pitcher Carlee Jo Clark (Carol Stream, Ill./Southern Illinois) was the hero in game one, cracking a full-count, two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh to cap a dramatic four-run rally by UIC and give the Flames their second walk-off win of the season.
 
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH LYNN CURYLO
"We had a great come back win in game one. It was awesome to see contributions from Larissa Ortiz, Hailey Cowing, Grace Fleming, Siena Stickney, Cameran Rios, and Anna Walker. Great job to Carlee Jo Clark for walking it off and getting it done! I'm also happy that Miranda Gomez got her first win of 2024. In the second game we struggled on the defensive side of the ball. We will be better tomorrow."

 
GAME ONE (4-3, UIC)

• North Dakota looked to strike first with runners on first and second and two outs in the top of the second. Angie Dumlao singled to center, but UIC junior Grace Fleming (Long Beach, Calif./Millikan) threw a rocket to senior catcher Emma Crowley (Peoria, Ill./Peoria Notre Dame) to cut down the UND runner and end the inning.
• Redshirt freshman Jazmyn Casas (Berwyn, Ill./Taft) opened the bottom of the third with a pinch-hit single to left for her first hit of the season, but the Flames couldn't capitalize.  
• After North Dakota scored three in the top of the fourth off defensive mishaps by the Flames, UIC looked to rally in the bottom half of the inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, senior Anna Walker (Burnside, Ill./Warsaw) laid down a bunt to get on, but junior Emma Gumont (Warren, Ohio/Notre Dame College) was caught in a rundown between third and home and tagged out at home to end the inning. 
• Senior pitcher Miranda Gomez (Pico Rivera, Calif./Bishop Amat) relieved Clark in the circle in the fourth and kept North Dakota at bay, pitching three innings and allowing just two hits while striking out two.
• Down to their final three outs, the Flames immediately loaded the bases after back-to-base hits from Walker and junior Larissa Ortiz (Romeoville, Ill./Wisconsin), followed by a walk to freshman Siena Stickney (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capo Valley).
• On a 2-2 pitch, freshman Cameran Rios (Effingham, Ill./ St. Anthony) roped a single to center, scoring Ortiz to give UIC its first run. One out later, junior Hailey Cowing (Torrance, Calif./West Torrance) loaded the bases once again with a single and Fleming hit a hard ground ball past the second baseman to score Stickney and bring UIC within 3-2 with the bases still jammed.
• After the second out, Clark stepped up and worked the count full before crushing a long drive to right for a double that plated Rios and Cowing with the tying and winning runs.

GAME TWO (5-0, FIU)

• Graduate student Christina Toniolo (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) got the start in the circle for UIC, and in her first three innings of work, she held FIU to one hit and struck out two.
• Walker and junior Jojo Santiago (Channahon, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) each collected base hits in the early innings for UIC, but the Flames couldn't get a runner across.
• UIC's other hit came off the bat of Rios, who slapped a single past the Panthers' shortstop in the top of the fifth.
• After a tough two middle innings in the circle, Toniolo completed a 1-2-3 sixth inning behind the work of her defense. Toniolo finished her day with two strikeouts and five walks.

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• After missing most of last season due to injury, Casas collected her first hit since going 1-for-3 against Idaho State on Feb. 18, 2023.
• Walker has collected a hit in five of the past six games.
• Earning the win over North Dakota in relief, Gomez is  the fourth different UIC pitcher to collect a pitching victory this season.

 
UP NEXT FOR THE FLAMES!
UIC returns to Felsberg Field Saturday to play Seton Hall, with the first pitch scheduled for 9 a.m. (CT). The tournament then will be reseeded based on the results of the opening-round games, setting up the final two matchups of the weekend. The times of these remaining games have yet to be announced.
 
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