Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

CHICAGO - Julia Morales recorded five total hits and three RBI while Sarah Hartley and Sara Cupp each hit home runs as Oakland (10-14, 1-1 HL) split a doubleheader at UIC (9-11, 1-1, HL) with a 8-5 win in 11 innings and 9-1 setback to open the 2015 Horizon League season Friday at DePaul University's Cacciatore Stadium. Erin Kownacki (6-6) got the win putting in a work horse effort going 11.0 innings throwing over 200 pitches with five strikeouts.

Morales lead Oakland going 4-for-6 with two RBI in the first game while Hartley went 2-for-5 with a home run and RBI. Cupp hit 1-for-2 with a two-run home run while Courtnee Johnson added two RBI going 1-for-5 with run a scored.

"In the first game, we came out hitting and played great plus I was excited that Erin was pitching very well," said head coach Connie Miner. "We made a couple of mistakes in the seventh that allowed them to tie the game a 5-5 but we battled and hit the second pitcher really hard to move ahead 8-5. It was disappointing that we played such a great first game and could not hit the same pitcher again in the second game. This team has a special quality to keep fighting and will come out strong tomorrow and be ready to try and take the series."

In game one, Oakland wasted little time scoring as Cupp's two-run home run gave the Golden Grizzles a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Oakland moved ahead 3-0 in the second as Jackie Kisman added a RBI single to score Morgan Muron.

Hartley followed in the fourth inning with a solo home run increasing the lead to 4-0. UIC added two runs in the bottom half cutting the lead to 4-2.

Johnson notched a sacrifice fly scoring Hartley in the top of the fifth to take a 5-2 lead.

UIC got the based loaded in the bottom of the seventh and added three unearned runs off a sacrifice fly, RBI single and hit batter to tie the game at 5-5.

The game would stay tied until the top of the 11th when Oakland got to UIC pitcher Elaine Heflin as Johnson launched a RBI double deep to center field to score Cupp. Morales followed with two-RBI single through the left side to plate TJ Bindus and Johnson giving Oakland an 8-5 lead. Kownacki was able to close the door on the Flames in the bottom half to secure the win.

In the nightcap, Heflin was able to keep Oakland's offense off balance allowing only two hits and one run. The Flames jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning highlighted by a grand slam home run by Paige Peterson.

Trailing 9-0 in the top of the fifth, Johnson hit a double followed by a RBI single from Morales to score Bindus with one out and runners in scoring position. However, Heflin get the final two outs to notch the 9-1 win for UIC.

The series finale between the Golden Grizzlies and Flames will be held on Saturday, Mar. 21 at 11 a.m. ET.

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