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Softball Opens Up MVC Play at Murray State

Flames and Racers clash for first time since UIC joined the Missouri Valley Conference.

3/14/2024 9:59:00 AM

MURRAY, Ky. (March 14, 2024) – The UIC softball team (7-17, 0-0 MVC) opens its second season in the Missouri Valley Conference this weekend with a three-game series at Murray State Racers (12-13, 0-0). All three games from Racer Field will be available on ESPN+ and live stats can be found at UICFlames.com.
 
UIC at MURRAY STATE
When: Friday-Sunday (March 15-17)
Where: Racer Field (801 Gilbert Graves Drive, Murray, KY 42071)
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: UICFlames.com
 
SCHEDULE
Friday, March 15
at Murray State | 5 p.m. (CT)
Saturday, March 16
at Murray State | 2 p.m. (CT)
Sunday, March 17
at Murray State | Noon (CT)
 
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE
  • This will be the first time these teams have met since UIC joined the MVC in July 2022. Each team has won a game in the overall series, with the Flames taking the most recent matchup, 2-1 in March 2018 at the Racer Classic.
  • The Racers completed nonconference tournament play with nearly a .500 record (12-13, .480), including wins against Toledo, IUPUI and Jacksonville State. They are coming off a 3-1 showing at the North Alabama Tournament last weekend in Florence, Ala., with wins against Southern Mississippi, Samford, and Detroit Mercy.
  • Senior Taylor Jackson has the quick hand behind the plate, having thrown out 13 baserunners this season to lead the nation.  She also is tops on the Murray State roster in the batter's box with a .299 batting average and 20 hits this season.
  • Redshirt senior Jenna Veber has pitched 83.1 innings this season and has the second-best ERA in the Valley (0.92).
  • Sophomore utility player Adison Hicks has showed promise on the offensive side with a .291 batting average and a team-high seven RBI, tied with freshman Kayleigh White and junior Erin Lackey. Hicks also leads the team with stolen bases, successfully going 9-for-9 on steal attempts this year.
 
SCOUTING THE FLAMES
  • The Flames finished non-conference tournament play with their best record since the 2021 season, when UIC won the Horizon League championship and made its most recent NCAA regional appearance.
  • UIC went 1-3 at the Music City Classic down in Nashville last weekend. After splitting the first doubleheader at Lipscomb on March 9, the Flames fell the following day in a non-conference doubleheader at fellow MVC member Belmont (2-0, 1-0).
  • Graduate student Carlee Jo Clark (Carol Stream, Ill./Southern Illinois) batted .309 last weekend, smacking her third home run of the season. She is tied with junior Grace Fleming (Long Beach, Calif./Millikan) with a team-leading .270 batting average and already has 13 RBI this season, surpassing her total from a season ago (10).
  • Redshirt junior Alyssa McIntosh (Lancaster, Calif./Lancaster) pitched 11.2 innings in two games for the Flames last weekend. Supported by stellar defense behind her, McIntosh collected the win against Lipscomb in relief, and went toe-to-toe with Belmont's Emma Summers in a 6.2-inning effort. McIntosh capped the weekend with a 0.77 ERA at the Music City Classic.
  • Although mostly known for her work defensively, senior Larisa Villa (La Habra, Calif./La Habra) has kickstarted one of her best offensive seasons to date. She has the second-highest batting average on the team (.265), has the same number of doubles as her last three seasons combined (five) and is one hit away from surpassing her season-high total from 2022 (18).
  • The Flames have had a strong defensive showing this season with a .965 fielding percentage, which is the best in the Valley.
 
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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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