April 13, 2002
Box Score
Canfield, Ohio - It was a bad dream the UIC softball team was hoping they would not relive again this season.
For the second straight Saturday, the Flames (23-18, 2-2) run-ruled their Horizon League opponent in the opening game of a doubleheader, and for the second straight Saturday UIC watched that same team rally back with late-inning dramatics to clip them in the nightcap.
This time it was Youngstown State that provided the nightmare for the Flames as they pulled out a 4-3 win in the second game of the twinbill after being run-ruled, 9-0 in five innings in the opener.
UIC led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh in game two, but the Penguins would not go away loading the bases with two outs off reliever Amanda Ritchie (2-4). The game looked to be over when Amber Smith grounded one to shortstop Jennifer Tiffany. Tiffany couldn't clove the ball cleanly, though, allowing the tying run to score.
Ritchie would then get ahead 1-2 on the next batter, Be Cicero, but would toss a wild pitch on the next offering, which plated the go-ahead run.
Cicero (3-4), who went the distance for YSU in the circle in game two to earn the win, would retire the Flames in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the victory for the Penguins (7-13, 1-1).
UIC starter Alycia Creese dodged bullets in the first two frames, but the Penguins finally drew blood in the third. Zetta Dumkrieger opened the third inning with a double followed by a home run by Amanda Berry to rightfield to put YSU up 2-0 and chase Creese from the game. It was Berry's first home run of the season and just the team's fourth of the year.
The Flames took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Rivera drove in the first run with an RBI groundout, then after a Hernandez single, Stachura put UIC up 3-2 with a line drive home run over the 215-foot sign in centerfield. It was Stachura's eighth homer of the season.
In game one, which was delayed over five hours due to rain, it was a scoreless game until the top of the fifth inning when a trio of Penguin errors sparked a nine-run frame for the Flames.
The rally started when with the bases loaded and no outs YSU second baseman Charlene Kudlock's errant throw to the plate on a ground ball by Cameron Astiazaran allowed two runs to score.
After Edel Leyden flew out to centerfield, sophomore Amanda Rivera put the Flames up 4-0 with a two-run double. Rookie Sara Hernandez followed with a single, then senior Amber Stachura drove one off the rightfield wall to plate Rivera and give UIC a 5-0 advantage. An error by pitcher Stephanie Hartman on a come-backer off the bat of Jacque Vaca put the Flames up 6-0. Emily Hallmann would then cap the scoring with a towering three-run homer to left-center field. It was Hallman's third homer of the season.
Alison Aguilar was near perfect in the circle for UIC en route to picking up her team-best 12th win of the season. The sophomore allowed just one hit while striking out eight of the 16 batters she faced while walking none in five innings of work.
Stephanie Hartman was tagged with the loss to fall to 5-11.
The five-inning game last just over an hour.
The Flames will look to get back on track tomorrow when they travel to meet Cleveland State for a doubleheader at 12:00 p.m.
