April 12, 2000

Evanston, Ill. - The 25th-ranked UIC softball team split a doubleheader with Northwestern Wednesday afternoon at Anderson Field, rebounding from a 15-1 loss in the first game to even the day with a 3-1 triumph in game two.

The first game of the twin bill is one the Flames would like to forget as they were handed their worst defeat since May 7, 1987, a 16-0 loss to Northwestern. The Wildcats came out smoking, tagging UIC starter Rory Gonzales-Gould for 15 runs, on 14 hits, in the first four innings. The game was halted after four 4 ? frames by run-rule.

Gretchen Barnes paced NU's offensive attack, going 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs and five RBI. Erin Jancic added five RBI of her own to the Wildcat cause, four of which came on a grand slam in the third inning.

Lauren Schwendimann (8-8) picked up the win for Northwestern, allowing one run while striking out six.

The Flames needed someone to cool the Wildcat bats in game two and Maral Binnebose did just that, recording her fourth-straight win in a 3-1 UIC victory.

Binnebose, who improved to 7-3 on the season and lowered her ERA to a team-best 1.02, went the distance, giving up four hits and one unearned run.

On the offensive end, Kathy Casey and Julie Bumgardner each tabbed RBI singles with the Flames other run scoring on a pair of NU errors.

UIC (38-21) is back at home on Thursday, April 13, at 4:00 p.m. versus Eastern Illinois.