March 17, 2001

Box Score

USF Clearwater Parks and Recreation Tournament

Quarterfinal Round

Rutgers 1, UIC 0 (8 innings)

Clearwater, Fla. - It was the definition of a pitcher's duel.

UIC's Alycia Creese and Rutgers' Leah Black put on a show in the circle on Saturday as they went back and forth into extra frames, combining for 23 strikeouts while surrendering just three total hits in the game.

In the top of the eighth inning, though, playing under international tie-breaker rules, the Scarlet Knights finally broke through as Nicole Cruz delivered an RBI double that proved to be the difference in a 1-0, extra inning Rutgers victory in the quarterfinals of the USF Clearwater Parks and Recreation Tournament.

With the win, the Scarlet Knights advance to the semifinal round of the tournament where they will meet Canisius, who upset Texas A&M earlier in the day, on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. The Flames, meanwhile, finish the tournament with a 4-1 mark and are now 19-16 on the year.

Creese (9-7), who held Rutgers hitless through the first five innings while fanning five of the first 15 batters, had one of her finest pitching outings of the season despite earning the loss. The rookie struck out six and walked none in the contest while giving up just two hits.

Black was even more dominant in the circle as she struck out 17 Flames while going the distance for the Scarlet Knights. In one stretch, Black fanned eight-straight UIC batters while also retiring the last 14 Flames she faced.

UIC will be back in action on Friday, March 23, as they open play at the 2001 Buzz Classic in Marietta, Ga., with Stetson at 6:00 p.m. EST.