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UIC Athletics

thevalley
Team
1
UIC UIC 8-20
7
Winner Northwestern NU 13-7
UIC UIC
8-20
1
Final
7
Northwestern NU
13-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
UIC UIC 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 3
Northwestern NU 0 0 0 1 3 3 X 7 8 0

W: Henry, Cami (2-1) L: Toniolo, Christina (4-5)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Drops Midweek Match-up to Northwestern

The Flames scatter seven hits in Wednesday’s loss to the Wildcats

Evanston, Ill. (March 20, 2024) – The UIC softball team (8-20) jumped out to an early one-run lead before Northwestern (12-7) came back in the later innings to win, 7-1 in a non-conference clash Wednesday evening at Sharon J. Drysdale Field in Evanston, Ill.


Senior Emma Crowley (Peoria, Ill./Peoria Notre Dame) went one-for-three with her first home run of the season, while senior Larisa Villa (La Habra, Calif./La Habra) went 2-for-3 with two singles. Graduate student Carlee Jo Clark (Carol Stream, Ill./St. Francis/Southern Illinois) started in the circle for the Flames pitching four innings and striking out three while allowing four hits.

GAME RECAP
  • In the top of the second, Crowley took the first pitch she saw, crushing the ball over the left field wall to give UIC an early 1-0 lead.
  • The Wildcats had two base runners on early in the bottom of the second, but a swinging strikeout from Clark and a diving grab from freshman Cameran Rios (Effingham, Ill./St Anthony) got the Flames out of the inning unscathed.
  • Villa opened the fourth with a shallow fly into right field for her first hit of the game before three consecutive put-outs by the Wildcats left her stranded on base.
  • After the Wildcats tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, UIC junior Grace Fleming (Long Beach, Calif./Millikan) came up with a crucial stop to end the attack. With a Northwestern runner on second, Fleming threw a rocket from centerfield to home to tag out the Wildcats baserunner to end the inning. 
  • Pinch-hitting for junior Jojo Santiago (Channahon, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy) in the top of the fifth, sophomore Gianna Richy (Chicago, Ill./Marist) crushed a ball over the Northwestern right fielder's head for an extra base hit before Santiago re-entered to run. After stealing third base, Santiago was tagged out at home as part of a Northwestern double play that ended the inning.  
  • After Northwestern took its  first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth, Villa attempted a two-out rally with her second single of the game in the top of the sixth. However, she was stranded on base.
  • The Wildcats secured the win after scoring three additional insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.
 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
  • Crowley's home run was her fifth home run of her collegiate career, and her first since April  2021 at home against Cleveland State.
  •  Crowley is tied for fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference, alongside fellow catcher junior Larissa Ortiz (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville/Wisconsin), with six base runners thrown out this season.
  • In a pinch-hitting capacity, Richy has batted .500 (2-for-4) over the past four games. She has a .375 batting average throughout the season.
  • After her 2-for-3 day at the plate, Villa has six multi-hit games this season.
UP NEXT FOR THE FLAMES!
The Flames make their return to Flames Field for their home opening series this weekend, hosting Southern Illinois (20-4, 5-0 MVC) March 22-24. The first pitch for Friday's game is scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT). The first 100 fans in attendance will receive a free UIC umbrella to take home.

The game will be available to stream on ESPN+. Live stats will also be available at UICFlames.com.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
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).
 
#ChicagosCollegeTeam | #FireUpFlames
 
 
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