March 30, 2001
Box Score
Game One
UIC 3, Oakland 2
Chicago, Ill. - Junior leftfielder Amber Stachura belted a bases-loaded, walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift host UIC to a 3-2 victory over Oakland in the opening game of a double header at Flames Field on Friday.
"Amber really came through with a big hit," UIC coach Mike McGovern said. "We were fortunate to come back and win this one."
McGovern was referring to the previous half-inning when Oakland slugger Ericka Burns stepped to the plate with runners on second and third with two outs and the Golden Grizzlies trailing 2-1.
"You begin to wonder if you want to pitch to her or not," McGovern said. "You hate to put another runner on base."
Burns connected for a single, which drove in pinch-hitter Donna McCoy in to knot the game up at 2-apiece.
The Flames (24-17), however, answered in the bottom half of the frame as freshman Jacquelyne Vaca (2-for-3, 1 run) roped a single to left field with two outs. McGovern sent junior Amy Gonzales in to pinch run for Vaca.
Vaca's hit seemed to rattle Grizzlies' reliever Jaymie Voss as she issued a wild pitch, a walk to Stefanie Christoferson and hit freshman Amanda Rivera to load the bases and set the stage for Stachura's heroics.
Freshman Alycia Creese earned the victory for the Flames to improve her record to a team-best 12-8 for the season. The freshman hurler went the distance and held Oakland (6-13) to five hits while striking out three batters.
Game Two
UIC 8, Oakland 1
UIC rode the wave of momentum from the opening game of the doubleheader and cruised past Oakland for an 8-1 victory in the nightcap.
"Winning the first game like that always helps," McGovern said. "The kids came into the second game real aggressive and hit well despite some pretty tough conditions."
Stachura, again, set the offensive pace for the Flames (25-17). The junior left fielder rapped two hits, scored three times and drove in a run.
The Flames again took advantage of Oakland's generosity in the second inning as Vaca raced into second on a two-base fielding error by the Grizzlies' centerfielder. Christoferson advanced her over to third on a sacrifice bunt.
Rivera and Stachura then poked RBI doubles to put the Flames ahead 2-0. Stachura later scored on a passed ball by Oakland catcher Megan Piar to extend UIC's lead to 3-0.
Oakland cut the gap to 2-1, but not before UIC could answer. With one out in the bottom half of the fifth, Rivera and Stachura each belted singles to put runners at first and second for the Flames. Both advanced a base as Grizzlies' pitcher Julie Anderson uncorked a wild pitch.
Freshman Amanda Ritchie laid down a bunt to score Rivera and put UIC ahead 4-1. Grizzlies' coach Steve Ogg then called Linnea Utecht to pitch to senior Molly Freeman. Utecht promptly issued the second wild pitch of the inning to score Stachura and give UIC a 5-1 advantage.
Sophomore Emily Hallmann and junior Edel Leyden came through in the bottom of the sixth inning and put the game out of reach for the Golden Grizzlies.
Stachura opened the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ritchie advanced Stachura over to third on a sacrifice bunt and junior Jennifer Tiffany drew a walk to set the stage for Hallmann's RBI single. Leyden drove Tiffany and Hallman in with a two-run triple to left field to push the Flames to victory.
Freshman right-hander Alison Aguilar went the distance and held Oakland to four hits while striking out six to up her record to 7-2 for the season.
UIC will be back in action on Sunday, April 8th at 1:00 PM as they will host Midwestern Collegiate Conference rival UW-Green Bay for a double-header at Flames Field.
