UIC, Butler, Cleveland State Advance; Wright State Eliminated on Day One of League Softball Championship

Hernandez would strike again in the fifth, lining her second homer to left, tying the League championship record with two in a game.  UIC tacked on five more runs across the fifth and sixth, and Devin Miller made the runs stand up.  Miller allowed just three hits in six innings of work, striking out five.

Game 2: No. 3 Butler 4, No. 6 Wright State 0
In a tight pitchers duel, Butler (29-22) broke open a scoreless game with four runs in the fourth and Horizon League Pitcher of the Year Jenny Esparza made the lead hold, striking out 13 as the Bulldogs shutout Wright State, 4-0.

Krystian DeWitt matched Esparza pitch-for-pitch over three innings, but the Bulldogs found holes in the Wright State (26-28) defense in the fourth inning after loading the bases.  Kayla Gray slapped a single to left to drive in the eventual game-winning run, and Erin Jackson followed up with a single to bring home Butler's second tally.  Meaghan Sullivan followed Jackson with a single to right center, closing out the scoring in the game.

Esparza struggled with her control, walking six and hitting a batter, ending Wright State threats in both the sixth and seventh with strikeouts.

Game 3: No. 4 Cleveland State 4, No. 6 Wright State 2
Cleveland State (29-20) answered Wright State's (26-29) two-run half of the third with four of their own, eliminating the defending champion Raiders, 4-2, Wednesday afternoon.  It was the first time since 2002 that Wright State went 0-2 at the League Tournament.

The Raiders dented the scoreboard first, as Kristi Boreing reached on an error and Mollie Berry followed up with a one out single to put runners at first and second.  China Frost then delivered with an opposite field double, the ball spinning away from the left fielder, allowing both runners to score.

However, Cleveland State came right back, knocking out Wright State starter Krystian DeWitt after Gabby Gillian knotted the game with a two-run double to the gap in right-center field.  Chelsea Contant would relieve DeWitt and be greeted rudely, as Tess Sito knocked a liner to left, driving in Gillian, who went to her right to dive around the tag and provide the go-ahead run.  Sito would come around to score as Justine Shilt could only knock down Andrea Nagy's single up the middle, creating the final margin.

After the rocky third, Sito settled down, going the distance for Cleveland State, striking out 7 and not giving up a walk.  The Vikings have Thursday off, and will back in action on Friday, May 13, at 11 a.m. CT, with the opponent to be determined.

Tomorrow's three games features two in-state showdowns, with top-seeded Loyola taking on No. 5 UIC at 11 a.m.; No. 2 Valparaiso will make its tournament debut at 1:30 p.m., meeting Butler.  The losers of those games will play at 4 p.m. CT.