TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State softball completed a three-game sweep of UIC on Monday, taking both games of a doubleheader by run-rule on a windy afternoon at Price Field.
 
The Sycamores (13-11) won game one 9-1 and game two 12-2 to clinch the series sweep over the Flames and improve to 3-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
Game One
UIC had their bats going early, getting out in front in the top of the first with a 1-0 lead on a pair of hits. Indiana State wasted no time, responding with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-1 lead. Olivia Patton reached on an infield single followed by walks from both Henning sisters which loaded the bases. Kennedy Shade promptly cleared them with a double to right center.
 
After a scoreless second inning, the Sycamores would extend the lead in the third. Kaylee Barrett drove in Isabella Henning to led off the inning with a single. Kennedy Shade added her second double of the game in the inning as well.
 
Cassi Newbanks went three innings, allowing the lone run and striking out three before being replaced by Hailey Griffin prior to the start of the fourth. Griffin worked a scoreless frame to bring up the ISU bats who looked to add to the lead.
 
The Sycamores would score five runs in the inning, with Kennedy Shade collecting her third double of the game to begin the scoring. After her double made it made 5-1, Cassie Thomerson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kaylee Barrett then launched a grand slam to left center, her second long fly of the season to make it a 9-1 game after four innings.
 
Hailey Griffin allowed a leadoff double in the fifth but got the next three hitters in order to secure the run-rule victory and give ISU the series win. Newbanks got the win and improved to 4-4 on the season.
 
Indiana State finished game one with 11 hits while UIC had 6. Randi Jo Pryor registered the first multi-hit effort of her career, finishing 2-for-3.
 
Game Two
Indiana State continued their offensive attack in the series finale. The Sycamores turned in an eight-run second inning to put the Flames away early in the contest. Isabella Henning had a 3-RBI double followed by a Kennedy Shade RBI double to make it 4-0. Cassie Thomerson then singled home Shade to make it 5-0. Following Thomerson's base hit, Annie Tokarek singled home Thomerson which made it 6-0. Kaylee Barrett made it 7-0 with a double to center field and then came around to score on a throwing error to cap the eight-run frame.
 
The Sycamores added to their lead in the 3^rd, scoring on a UIC error to go up 9-0.
 
UIC would get in on the scoring in the 4^th, scoring a pair of runs on three hits in the frame including a two-out RBI double. Indiana State went down in order in the bottom of the 4^th as the score remained 9-2.
 
In the top of the fifth, Sycamores starter Lauren Sackett picked up two more strikeouts to finish with a career-high 11 on the afternoon.
 
Danielle Henning led off the fifth with a single followed by an Isabella Henning hit by pitch which brought up Kennedy Shade who had been swinging a hot bat all day. Shade promptly sent the second pitch over the wall in left center for a three-run home run to clinch another run rule victory with a 12-2 score.
 
Sackett's complete game improved her record to 4-4 on the season and she's now up to a team-high 49 strikeouts with her 11 today.
 
Indiana State had 12 hits led by Kennedy Shade who finished with three. Annie Tokarek and Abi Chipps also had multi-hit games with two apiece.
 
Up Next
The Sycamores travel to West Lafayette, Indiana on Tuesday for a doubleheader at Purdue scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET. The Sycamores then resume play with a three-game series at Drake beginning Friday in Des Moines.

For the latest information on Sycamore Softball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.