April 15, 2002
Box Score
Cleveland, Ohio - Maybe it was the warm weather. Perhaps it was the shakeup in the regular lineup. Whatever it was the UIC softball team looked like a squad on a mission on Monday afternoon as they swept host Cleveland State, 11-2 and 11-0 in five innings at Viking Field.
The sweep improves UIC to 25-18 on the year, 4-2 in Horizon League play. CSU, meanwhile, drops to 11-16-1, 0-2 in league action.
With senior Jennifer Tiffany nursing a sore left hand, co-head coaches Sarah O'Malley-Fisher and Tom Gray moved her out of the leadoff spot to No. 2 in the order while bring the Flames' leading home run hitter, Edel Leyden into the leadoff spot.
The moves proved effective as UIC knocked out 25 hits and launched three home runs in the twinbill. Senior's Amber Stachura and Edel Leyden, along with sophomore Amanda Rivera did plenty of damage at the dish. Stachura went 5-for-6 with a home run and five RBI. Leyden was 4-for-7 with a homer and five RBI while Rivera tallied three hits, including a home run, and drove in five as well.
In game one, UIC pounded out 13 hits and launched two home runs in an 11-2 triumph over the Vikings.
Sophomore Alison Aguilar remained undefeated in the circle in Horizon League play, improving to 13-8 overall.
The Flames got on the board first in the top of the second inning when senior Amber Stachura continued her recent tear at the plate with a solo home run, her career-best ninth of the season.
The Vikings answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame, though, capitalizing on a pair of bloop infield hits to knot the score, 1-1.
UIC would break through in the top of the third, batting around to plate four runs for a 5-1 lead. Sara Hernandez, Amanda Rivera and Stachura all tallied RBI knocks in the frame with the Flames also taking advantage of a pair of CSU errors.
With the score 5-2 in the top of the fifth, UIC added to its lead as Emily Hallmann and Edel Leyden both notched run scoring hits for a 7-2 Flames edge.
The Flames were not done as they tallied four runs in the top of the seventh for a 11-2 lead. Cameron Asitazaran drove in the run with a single through the right side, then Leyden capped the rally with a three-run opposite field homer. It was Leyden's team-best 12th homer of the season.
UIC carried over its strong finish in the first game into the second contest as they rolled to an 11-0, five inning triumph.
The Flames tallied a trio of runs in the bottom of the first and five in the second for an early 8-0 lead.
In the first, Stachura started the scoring with a two-run double, before Jacquelyne Vaca brought her home with a double of her own.
The Flames then kept things going in the second as Hernandez, Rivera and Stachura all drove in single runs while Atiazaran knocked one off the rightfield wall to plate a pair.
Amanda Rivera would later give UIC its final 11-0 cushion with a three-run homer in the third inning. It was her ninth homer of the season.
Sophomore Amanda Ritchie pitched well in the circle for the Flames, picking up her third win of the season, allowing just two hits while striking out four and walking none.
UIC will look to build on its success tomorrow as they return home for a 4:00 p.m. doubleheader with Purdue at Flames Field.
