CHICAGO, Illinois - The Cleveland State softball team fell to UIC in both of its games on Friday afternoon by final scores of 5-1 and 17-3. The Green and White will take on the Flames for another doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch being at 2 p.m. ET
GAME ONE
Courtney Fernette's fifth-inning RBI single to left field brought the Vikings back within 3-1, but a late UIC homer lifted the Flames to a 5-1 win in the series opener.
Vikings hurler Hanna Griffin ran into trouble early when UIC plated a pair of runs in the first frame, but the junior left the bases loaded on an inning-ending strikeout to keep Cleveland State within striking distance.
The Flames made it a 3-0 ballgame on Kayla Wedl's RBI single in the second.
Freshman Jenna Watts replaced Griffin at the start of the fourth frame and retired all six batters she faced over a pair of perfect innings.
Cleveland State advanced a pair of runners into scoring position in the top of the fifth but was unable to bring either of them home.
Aly Packish led off the sixth with a single to right field before moving to second on Alexa Sieger's sacrifice bunt and taking third on Gabby Shackelford's groundout. The junior completed her trek around the basepaths on Fernette's RBI hit, which gave the Vikings' backstop a five-game hitting streak.
UIC put the game out of reach with a two-run shot to left center in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-1 edge.
Mackenzie Tucker went 2-3 at the dish while Taylor Betz tossed the sixth inning for Cleveland State, surrendering a pair of runs on two hits with two strikeouts.
GAME TWO
UIC scored the ballgame's opening run in the bottom of the first, before recording an eight-run second inning.
The Vikings' bats came to life in the top of the third frame, as the Green and White scored three runs.
Jenna Deang notched a one out single, with Mackenzie Tucker following suit singling up the middle to advance Deang to second base. Both Vikes then advanced to their respective bases off of a wild pitch by Christina Toniolo. Kiera Frascone stepped into the batter's box next for Cleveland State earning a walk. With only one out and bases loaded, Alexa Sieger singled through the right side, scoring Deang and Tucker, while advancing Frascone to third base.
Courtney Fernette grounded out to first base, scoring Frascone.
Cleveland State would be unable to score another run in game two of Friday's doubleheader, as UIC tacked on eight more runs in the bottom of the third inning to finish with a 17-3 victory.
Torrie Jenkins, Hanna Griffin, Taylor Betz and Jenna Watz all threw for the Green and White in Friday's second contest, with Jenkins recording the loss.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will face off against UIC for two more games on Saturday, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. Following Saturday's games, Cleveland State will return home to Viking Field for eight of its final 12 games, first taking on Green Bay on Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24.
