BLOOMINGTON, Indiana (March 9, 2025) – After having a day off on Saturday, the UIC softball team was back in action on the final day at the Hoosier Classic. Opening day three competition, the Flames played back-to-back games, taking on the Western Michigan University Broncos and the host, the Indiana University Hoosiers. With the day's first two games, the Flames and Broncos began day three with an eight-inning thriller. As both teams looked to break a double-digit losing streak, the Broncos (6-16) ended up on top as the Flames (4-18) fell 10-8 in extra innings. For their second game of the day and their final game of the tournament, the Flames struggled to get their bats going against a tough Hoosier team. In five innings, the Hoosiers (17-5) defeated the Flames (4-19) 8-0.
GAME ONE RECAP
The Broncos began the game with one run in the top of the first inning before the Flames took a 4-1 lead in the bottom. A Sequoia Sanchez (Corona, Calif. / Roosevelt) single brought in Jojo Santiago (Channahon, Ill. / Joliet Catholic Academy) to tie the game at 1-1 before Sanchez later scored off a Siena Stickney (Mission Viejo, Calif. / Capo Valley) single through the right side to give the Flames the lead. After a pitching change by the Broncos, the Flames loaded the bases. Grace Fleming (Long Beach, Calif. / Millikan) would score off a Nina Pesare (Lisle, Ill. / Benet Academy) single to the pitcher before Stickney scored from a Cameran Rios (Effingham, Ill. / St. Anthony) walk. For the next three innings, the Broncos would pick up a run each inning, tying the game at 4-4 by the end of the fourth. In the fifth inning, the Flames took back the lead when Stickney singled to right field, scoring Sanchez to take a 5-4 lead. During the top of the sixth inning, the Broncos took the lead for the first time with a three-run inning, which included a two RBI home run. With the game on the line, the Flames put together a two-run seventh inning to send the game into extras. Hailey Cowing (Torrance, Calif. / West Torrance) scored off a Sanchez single, while Sanchez scored off a Brianna Motto (Corona, Calif. / Norco) single, tying the game at 7-7. With free softball underway, the Broncos came out swinging, adding three runs to take a 10-7 lead. The Flames attempted to comeback, scoring one run, but would fall short to the Broncos 10-8 in the eighth inning.
Sanchez went 2-for-3 with three runs and one RBI
Fleming went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI
The box score and play-by-play can be found here.
GAME TWO RECAP
Taking on the host, the Flames faced a tough team in the Hoosiers. After the Flames went three up, three down, the Hoosier took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. At the bottom of the second, the Hoosiers extended their lead with a three-run inning. Following a scoreless third inning, Cowing broke the Hoosier's no-hitter in the top of the fourth but was left stranded. In the bottom half of the inning, the Hoosiers' bats continued to swing as they went on to take an 8-0 lead. Unable to get anything going, the Flames fell to the Hoosiers 8-0 in five innings.
The box score and play-by-play can be found here.
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UP NEXT
The Flames will begin Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action this week when they head to Springfield, Mo., to take on the Missouri State Bears. The three-game series will begin on Thursday, March 13th, at 3:00 PM on Thompson Field. Live stats will be available at UICFlames.com.
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