March 16, 2000

Box Score

Clearwater, Fla. - The UIC softball team needed a pair of comebacks in its 3-2 triumph over Florida International Thursday afternoon in the opening game of the Clearwater Recreation Softball Tournament.

Not only did the Flames overcome a two-run deficit late in the game, but they had to overcome the loss of All-American Samantha Iuli, who injured her ankle sliding into third base in the second inning.

Iuli did not play the rest of the day and will be examined this evening to see if she will be available for the rest of the tournament.

Rory Gonzales-Gould (11-8) replaced Iuli on the mound and allowed just two unearned runs to cross the plate to earn the victory. She also contributed in the batter's box, tabbing the first hit of her career in the sixth inning. She would eventually come around to score the first run of her career on a game-tying single off the bat of Gina Arnold.

The Flames took the lead for the first time in the seventh inning as Edel Leyden led the inning off with a walk. She then stole second, which put her in scoring position for Jennifer Tiffany, who drove her home with an RBI single.

Gonzales shut the Golden Panthers down in the bottom half of the inning as UIC improved to 25-15 on the season.

Maral Binnebose (1-0) will pitch in the Flames' afternoon contest versus Penn.