CHICAGO – Six days removed from breaking the 20-year old UIC strikeout record, senior Elaine Heflin did it again as she broke her own 17-strikeout mark with 18 Friday night at Flames Field against Northern Kentucky (11-27. 5-8 HL). The Flames endured a strenuous 12 innings for the first time in seven seasons and walked off with the 1-0 victory over the Norse on a run driven in by Lexi Watts.
 
Heflin's 18 strikeouts was a notable feat in and of itself, but she also threw 10.1 no-hit innings, nearly throwing two no-hitters in less than a week, before NKU came away with a one-out hit. In those 10-plus frames, she walked four and retired 15 straight while she registered a career-high 174 pitches. Heflin has now struck out 53 over the course of her last four appearances.
 
Allie Trudeau entered the circle following the Norse's lone hit of the game and tossed the final 1.2 innings with one walk as she collected her sixth win of the year.
 
It was a pitcher's duel on both ends as UIC was limited to five hits through the first five innings before ending the game with a total of 10, as the Flames did not register a single strikeout. Watts and Savannah Soppet each produced two hits with Watts registering the game-winning RBI.
 
The Flames had just two runners reach base halfway through the game as Jennah Speth was left standing in the second after getting the first hit of the game with a single and Watts remained on base following a bunt single and stolen base number 19 on the year in the third.
 
While it put a pair on across the first four on two walks, NKU came out in the fifth to load the bases as it juiced the bases on a hit by pitch, fielder's choice sacrifice bunt and walk, but they were left stranded.
 
Kayla Wedl came up with a two-out double, her team-high eighth of the season, in the bottom half of the inning but she would become the third runner for the Flames left on base.
 
Into the seventh, Jasmine Willis led off with a single before a double play was turned. UIC rallied with two outs as Soppet singled and Fitzpatrick walked but the runners again remained.
 
Skylee James came up with a single to lead off bottom of the ninth, and after Claire Crane entered to pinch run, she made her way over the third on a single from Soppet before they were held at the corners.
 
After the Norse got their first hit of the game in the 11th and left a runner in scoring position in the 12th, the Flames came out in the eventual final inning and put two runners in scoring position as Alice Fitzpatrick singled and Taylor Cairns took a fortunate bounce in the infield to double. On an 0-1 count with two outs, Watts swung and dropped the ball into shallow left field, driving in the game-winning run and ending the three hour and 18 minute affair.
 
UIC and NKU are back in action Saturday at Flames Field to cap the series with a doubleheader at noon CT. The Flames will additionally honor seniors Alice Fitzpatrick, Heflin, Rachel May, Lindsay Melson, Kaleigh Nagle and Soppet for Senior Day.