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Nina Pesare
1
Ill.-Chicago ILL.-CHI 10-11-1, 0-1 MVC
9
Winner Belmont BELMONT 14-6, 1-0 MVC
Ill.-Chicago ILL.-CHI
10-11-1, 0-1 MVC
1
Final
9
Belmont BELMONT
14-6, 1-0 MVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Ill.-Chicago ILL.-CHI 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 0
Belmont BELMONT 1 0 4 0 4 9 9 2

W: Maya Johnson (9-1) L: Brandhorst, Trinity (2-3)

3
Winner Ill.-Chicago ILL.-CHI 11-11-1, 1-1 MVC
2
Belmont BELMONT 14-7, 1-1 MVC
Winner
Ill.-Chicago ILL.-CHI
11-11-1, 1-1 MVC
3
Final
2
Belmont BELMONT
14-7, 1-1 MVC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Ill.-Chicago ILL.-CHI 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 3 7 0
Belmont BELMONT 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 5 0

W: Whorley, Jasmine (9-4) L: Mackenzie Willis (2-2)

Game Recap: Softball | | Jami Sponaugle

Softball Splits in Conference Opener

Flames fall to Bruins in game one before winning game two 3-2

Nashville, Tenn. – In their 2026 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) opener, the UIC softball team traveled south to take on the defending champions, the Belmont Bruins. Opening the series with a doubleheader, the Flames fell in game one 9-1 in five innings. In game two, the Flames would trail early, but a 2-run homer in the fifth by Ari O'Connell gave them the lead and ultimate victory as UIC would hold strong and defeat Belmont 3-2, splitting the day. The Flames move their record to 11-11-1, 1-1 in conference play, while the Bruins move to 14-6, 1-1 in conference play. 
 
GAME ONE 
Cameran Rios opened the game with a leadoff single up the middle, but the Flames were unable to get anymore momentum going in the first before the Bruins scored one run to take an early lead. In the second, Nina Pesare scored the Flames lone run of the game. Bunting the ball, Pesare would advance around the bases on a throwing error by the first baseman, making her way around to home to tie the game at 1-1. Belmont's ace Maya Johnson held the Flames to one hit for the remainder of the game. In the bottom of the third, the Bruins took back the lead with a four-run inning. Following a scoreless fourth inning, Belmont had another four-run inning in the fifth, implementing the run rule as the Flames fell to the Bruins 9-1 in five innings.
 
The box score and play-by-play can be found here
 

 
GAME TWO
Siena Stickney picked up the first hit of the game in the top of the first with a single to the shortstop, but it would be the Bruins who recorded the first run as they took a 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning. After a quiet second inning, the Flames tied the game in the top of the third. Emilia Bartholomew led off the inning with a single to center field. With two outs and Bartholomew on third, Sam Tourtillott doubled to right center field, bringing home Bartholomew and tying the game. Neither side recorded a run in the fourth. In the fifth, the Flames took the lead. With Tourtillott on second, Ari O'Connell homered to left center field, giving the Flames a 3-1 lead. The Bruins came within one in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run. In the final inning, Belmont would get the tying run in scoring position, but Jasmine Whorley and the Flames defense held strong as they recorded a 3-2 victory over the Bruins.
 
The box score and play-by-play can be found here
 

 
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS




 
UP NEXT
The Flames and Bruins close out the series Saturday with a solo contest. First pitch will be at 10:00 a.m. CT in Nashville, Tenn. Live stream will not be available. Live stats will be available on 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
 
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