Softball Update: UIC in Control after Weekend Sweep

INDIANAPOLIS -- Spring has finally sprung throughout most of the Midwest, it seems, but Mother Nature has already wrecked havoc on the Horizon League softball season.

Several series between conference opponents have been postponed or cancelled, starting with the entire Horizon League-opening weekend and continuing with Cleveland State at Green Bay this past weekend. In fact, the Phoenix have yet to play a home game this season.

Because of the inclimate weather patterns and unseasonably cold tempurates much of the Horizon League footprint has experienced early in the season, the number of conference games that teams have played ranges from nine (UIC, Valparaiso, Wright State) to just three (Cleveland State, Youngstown State, Detroit).

The Flames have taken full advantage of their conference-play opportunites early on, posting a 7-2 Horizon League record that includes a three-game sweep of Detroit (0-3) over the weekend. Preseason-favorite Loyola sits in second place with a 4-2 conference record having swept defending-champion Valpo over the weekend. The Crusaders, however, still sit in third place with a 5-4 Horizon League record and have a conference-best 20 wins overall.

In the weekend's other series, fourth-place Wright State (4-5) took two out of three games from Youngstown State (1-2) in the Penguins' first conference action. Meanwhile, Cleveland State is 1-2 in Horizon League play and Green Bay is 2-4.

Looking forward -- and hoping for a continuation of the recent warmer temperatures -- Horizon League teams have 13 non-conference dates scheduled for this week before all eight teams return to Horizon League action over the weekend.