April 25, 2000
Box Score
Valparaiso, Ind. - Behind the strong pitching of Samantha Iuli, the 25th-ranked UIC softball team swept a doubleheader at Valparaiso on Tuesday evening. The Flames took the first game 2-0, then held off the Crusaders for a 4-3 triumph in the night cap.
Iuli picked up the win in both contests, pitching a complete-game shutout in game one, then hurling four innings in relief of Maral Binnebose in the second game. The All-American, who improved to 17-7 on the season, allowed just one run over 11 innings while striking out 23 Crusaders on the day.
In game one, Iuli set down a season-high 14 batters as the Flames prevailed 2-0. The contest was scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when UIC manufactured a pair of runs. Iuli led off the frame with a walk, then Jennifer Merwald, who pinch ran for the pitcher, stole second base. After Kathy Casey struck out, Julie Bumgardner chipped a single though the middle scoring Merwald. With Kelly Chenoweth running for Bumgardner, Amber Stachura reached on an error, putting runners on the corners with only one out. The Flames then executed a perfect double-steal as Chenoweth crossed the plate as the Crusaders tried to throw out Stachura at second.
Those two runs would be all UIC would need as Iuli got out of jams in the fourth and the sixth inning, striking out the side with runners in scoring position, with less than two outs, on both occasions.
In the second game, the Flames scored single runs in the third and fourth inning to give starter Binnebose a two-run cushion. Edel Leyden started UIC's scoring in the third with an RBI double, then Emily Hallman put the Flames up 2-0 in the fourth with her first collegiate home run, a towering shot to centerfield.
Binnebose ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth, though, as a walk to leadoff hitter Corey Burns, an error by shortstop Jen Tiffany and a walk to Kelley Morris loaded the bases for the Crusaders. Head Coach Mike McGovern then went to his bullpen, summoning game one starter Iuli.
On Iuli's first offering, Valparaiso's Ali Bultman grounded the ball to Tiffany, who was playing deep at shortstop. With no chance of getting Burns at the plate, Tiffany looked for the force attempt at third. The throw got by Edel Leyden, though, allowing the tying run to score.
The Crusaders now had runners on second and third with nobody out and seemed to have a little momentum on their side. Iuli didn't let that feeling last for long, though, as she fanned the next three batters to end Valparaiso's rally.
It took just three pitches for the Flames to get the lead back in the fifth as Amber Stachura launced a 2-0 pitch over the leftfield wall for her second home run of the year, putting UIC up 3-2. The Flames would later plate a much-needed insurance run in the top of the seventh inning as Edel Leyden scrored on an error by Crusader shortstop Tracy Wilson.
The run proved extremely important in the bottom of the frame as Tana Barnes led off the inning with a double. After Iuli struck out Jessica Radtke, Wilson looked to avenge her error in the top of the frame as she dumped a single into right. The junior rounded first hard, though, when Molly Freeman fired to third to try and cut down Barnes and fell to the dirt in pain, apparantley injuring her right knee. Tiffany scampered over to put the tag on her for the second out of the inning.
The Crusaders continued to battle as Sarah Calligaris drove home Barnes with a single off Iuli to cut the Flames' lead to one, 4-3. Bumgardner would put the upset bid to rest two pitches later, though, stabbing a would-be single off the bat of Burns headed for right field.
With the wins, UIC improved to 44-21 on the season and ran its winning streak to seven games. The Flames have a tough test on the slate tomorrow as they travel to South Bend, Ind., to meet #19 Notre Dame in an evening doubleheader.
