UIC Earns 2021 #HLSB Title
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO – UIC won its tenth overall #HLSB title and third championship since 2017 with a 4-3 victory over Oakland on Saturday.
No. 3 UIC 4, No. 2 Oakland 3
The Golden Grizzlies loaded the bases with three straight hits in the first inning but a double play and a popup ended the threat with no runs scored.
UIC put the first runs on the board in the second with a sacrifice fly and a scoring error to lead 2-0. The Flames added another run in each of the next two innings on an RBI single by Samantha Ferguson in the third and a sacrifice bunt in the fourth to push the advantage to 4-0.
Oakland scored a pair of runs in the fifth when Lauren Griffith plated two on an RBI single, cutting the UIC lead down to 4-2. Then, Cammie Brummit hit a solo home run in the seventh to make it a one-run game but the Flames held on for the win.
UIC pitcher Marley Hanlon earned her third victory of the championship in the circle to earn Championship MVP honors while Player of the Year Kayla Wedl went 2-3 from the plate with a double and a run.
Griffith and Brumitt had three hits each for the Golden Grizzlies in the loss.
The Flames will learn their NCAA Tournament draw during the NCAA Softball Selection Show at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 16 on ESPN2. The NCAA Tournament is set to begin with regional action on Friday, May 21.
2021 #HLSB All-Tournament Team
Marley Hanlon, UIC (MVP)
Dee Dee Caskey, UIC
Samantha Ferguson, UIC
Maica Ingles, UIC
Kayla Wedl, UIC
Sydney Campbell, Oakland
Lauren Griffith, Oakland
Madison Jones, Oakland
Jen Krizka, Oakland
Alex DeLeon, Youngstown State
Nikki Saibene, Youngstown State
Faith Miller, RMU