Weekend finale set for 12 p.m. on Sunday
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Nine runs in the first three innings launched UIC to a 10-3 win over the University of Evansville softball team on Saturday afternoon at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium.
Evansville accumulated 10 hits in the game with Callie Meinel going a perfect 3-for-3. Zoe Frossard continued her strong play as she went 2-3 with a walk. UIC finished the day with 13 hits as five players registered two hits apiece.
Two runs in the first, four in the second and three in the third saw the Flames jump out to a 9-0 lead. Alannah Cran got things started with a 2-run home run in the first before adding an RBI single in the second. Larisa Villa added a 2-RBI hit in the second.
Evansville picked up its first two hits of the game in the bottom half of the third. Jenna Nink had a single before Zoe Frossard added a ground rule double. UIC was able to get through the frame unscathed.
That changed in the bottom of the fourth when five runners in a row reached base including four consecutive base hits. Callie Meinel began with a 1-out infield single while Brooke Voss followed with a single up the middle. Next up was Brooke McCorkle, who hit another single up the middle to bring in Meinel for the first UE run of the day. Kaylee Lawson followed up with the fourth hit in a row to score Voss.
Abby Bode added an RBI groundout to plate the third run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. UIC added a home run in the top of the 7th frame to extend the lead to 10-3. Megan Brenton made the start for UE and allowed five runs in 1 2/3 innings. Christina Toniolo threw another complete game, allowing three runs on 10 hits.
Sunday’s series finale will begin with a 12 p.m. first pitch.
