May 14, 2000

Box Score

Indianapolis, Ind. - The UIC softball team captured its third-straight Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament title on Sunday afternoon as they defeated fourth-seeded UW-Green Bay in the championship game at North Central Field, in Indianapolis, Ind.

The Flames, who entered the tournament as the top seed after finishing 9-1 during league play and claiming their fifth consecutive regular-season title, now advance to the 48-team NCAA Regional Championship. UIC will learn its regional site and first-round opponent when the pairings are released tonight at 8:30 p.m. CDT.

Senior pitcher Samantha Iuli completed her tournament MVP performance on Sunday as she tossed her third complete-game shutout of the championship, allowing just a bunt single while striking out nine and walking none. For the tournament, she pitched 21 scoreless innings, giving up just four hits and fanning 27 batters.

The Flames (51-23) wasted little time breaking the championship game open as they plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Edel Leyden opened the frame with a single to left, and then on the first pitch to Jen Tiffany swiped second base. Tiffany would sacrifice Leyden to third, setting the table for Iuli, who put UIC on the board with an RBI single to left.

On the very next pitch, MCC Player of the Year Stefanie Christoferson, who entered the game 0-for-5 in the tournament, made it 3-0 as she drove her team-high 11th homerun over the leftfield wall. Her 11 homers ties the school record, held by teammate Iuli, for round-trippers in a single season.

Christoferson (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI) was not done for the day, though, as she gave UIC a 4-0 advantage in the third inning with a two-out RBI single.

Following the championship game, Iuli was named MVP as well as Pitcher of the Tournament. She was joined on the MCC All-Tournament team by teammates Leyden, Christoferson and Julie Bumgardner.

2000 MCC Softball All-Tournament TeamKatie Blackmore, LoyolaLori Caloia, DetroitKim Sycks, Wright StateDebbie Kind, UW-Green BayAmber Techlin, UW-Green BayJulie Bumgardner, UICEdel Leyden, UICStefanie Christoferson, UICSamantha Iuli, UIC
Defensive Player of the Tournament: Lisa Barker, UW-Green BayBatting Champion: Amber Techlin, UW-Green BayPitcher of the Tournament: Samantha Iuli, UICMVP: Samantha Iuli, UIC