Feb. 11, 2001
Box Score
Arlington, Texas - Despite losing its opening game of tournament play to Arkansas, 6-2, the UIC softball team is still alive at the UTA/Isuzu Motors Classic, advancing to the championship game of the consolation bracket where they will meet the winner of the Houston/Tulsa contest on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
The Flames (7-5) made their way to the consolation final on Saturday with a 7-3 triumph over Bethune-Cookman, then a dramatic seventh-inning comeback victory over Stephen F. Austin, 6-5. UIC was scheduled to meet BYU on Sunday morning in a semifinal match, but the Cougars are unable to compete on Sunday's and thus had to withdraw from the tournament.
Stefanie Christoferson, Edel Leyden and Jacquelyne Vaca paced the Flames' efforts on Saturday. Leyden went 5-for-9 at the plate on the day while Christoferson and Vaca were both 6-for-11, combining for three home runs and seven RBI.
Saturday, February 10, 2001
UTA/Isuzu Motors Classic - Mike Lewis Field
Game #4
Arkansas 6, UIC 2
Arlington, Texas - UIC got knocked out of the winner's bracket of the UTA/Isuzu Motors Classic as Arkansas doused the Flames, 6-2, on Saturday morning.
A two-run double by senior Jennifer Bottoms chased UIC starter Alycia Creese in the bottom of the second inning and staked the Ladybacks to an early 2-0 lead.
The Flames would tie the game in the fourth inning as a RBI single by Molly Freeman plated Stefanie Christoferson and Jacquelyne Vaca later scored on a wild pitch by Arkansas starter Rachel Talley.
The Ladybacks got the lead right back in the bottom of the frame, though, as with two outs and two runners on Kim Eiben's infield roller off reliever Maral Binnebose hugged the foul line and plated the go-ahead run.
Arkansas would later break the game open in the fifth as two hits and a UIC error led to a trio of runs and the eventual 6-2 final score.
Binnebose picked up the loss for UIC in the contest and fell to 1-1 on the year.
Saturday, February 10, 2001
UTA/Isuzu Motors Classic - Mike Lewis Field
Game #5
UIC 7, Bethune-Cookman 3
Arlington, Texas - Stefanie Christoferson and Amanda Rivera both hit first-inning home runs as UIC plated six runs in the opening frame en route to a 7-3 triumph over Bethune-Cookman in the consolation bracket at the UTS/Isuzu Motors Classic.
Christoferson, who went 3-for-4 on the day, quickly put the Flames in front versus the Lady Wildcats with a three-run homer in the first inning. It was her first home run of the season. Two batters later, Amanda Rivera hit her second bomb of the year with a solo shot to right-center field. UIC was not done in the inning, though, as Molly Freeman and Emily Stoddard both knocked in runs to stake the Flames to a 6-0 lead.
UIC would score one more on an error in the sixth, then hold off a late rally by Bethune-Cookman for the 7-3 win.
Freshman Alison Aguilar, who went 6 2/3 innings, picked up the win to even her record at 2-2 on the season. Junior Maral Binnebose closed things out in the seventh to pick up her first save of the year.
Saturday, February 10, 2001
UTA/Isuzu Motors Classic - Mike Lewis Field
Game #6
UIC 6, Stephen F. Austin 5
Arlington, Texas - Freshman Jacquelyne Vaca's walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning capped a two-run rally for UIC, who came back to down Stephen F. Austin, 6-5, on Saturday evening in the consolation quarterfinals of the UTA/Isuzu Motors Classic.
With the score knotted, 5-5, with two out, Vaca launched the offering from Ladyjack hurler Morgan Tolleson deep over the left field wall setting off a wild celebration at home plate.
It was Vaca's second home run of the ballgame - tying a UIC single-game record - as she also hit a two-run bomb in the fourth inning. All in all, the Ontario, Calif, native went 4-for-4 at the plate in the contest, which also ties a UIC single-game mark, and finished with three RBI, giving her a team-high 11 for the season.
The Flames trailed 5-3 heading into their final at bat after the Ladyjack's broke open a one-run game with a pair of tallies in the fifth inning. Jennifer Tiffany led off the frame with a walk, then was knocked home after junior Edel Leyden battled back from an 0-2 count to double off the wall. Senior Stefanie Christoferson came through next with a great at-bat of her own, fouling off several pitches before lacing a shot by the third baseman to score Leyden and tie the game at 5-5.
The game seemed to be headed for extra innings after Amanda Rivera grounded into a double play, but Vaca sent the UIC faithful home happy with her game-winning blast.
Junior Rory Gonzales-Gould started for the Flames, but was relieved after surrendering three runs in 2 1/3 innings of work. Freshman Alycia Creese (3-2) relieved Gonzales-Gould and was credited with win while allowing two runs and scattering four hits in four-plus innings.
