April 6, 2002
Box Score
Indianapolis, Ind. - The UIC softball team squandered a two-run, seventh-inning lead in game two of its doubleheader at Butler on Saturday afternoon and was forced to settle for a twinbill split in the Horizon League opener for both schools.
The Flames (20-15, 1-1 Horizon League) rolled to a 12-1, five-inning triumph in game one, before the Bulldogs (7-13, 1-1 Horizon League) rallied from two runs down for a 4-2, nine-inning victory in the nightcap.
In game two, UIC led 2-0 with one out and one on in the top of the seventh inning when starter Rory Gonzales-Gould surrendered a two-run homer off the bat of Jamie Bradley to tie the score.
The blast spoiled what had been an almost spotless day for the senior in the circle as she had face the minimum through six innings of work with the help of a pair of double plays.
The Flames would give themselves a pair of chances to take the second game, but BU closed the door on both opportunities. In the bottom of the seventh, Bulldogs' starter Melissa Benter got Edel Leyden, who had already driven in two runs in the game, to pop out with a runner on second and two outs, before leftfielder Jeri Keller robbed Amber Stachura of a homer in the eighth, crashing into the wall as she made a leaping grab to save the game.
Butler would finally break through in its half of the ninth inning with a two-run single by catcher Amanda Poast, which fell just outside the grasp of a diving Amber Stachura. The hit was Poast's first of the season.
UIC would make would last attempt at BU, but Benter, once again, closed the door on the Flames, getting Cameron Astaizaran to fly out with two runners on in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
Benter (2-8), who gave up eight earned runs in game one, was masterful in the second game, allowing just six hits and one earned run in the second game to pick up the win. Reliever Alycia Creese (8-4) was tagged with the loss for UIC.
In game one, the Flames tacked up eight runs in the second inning en route to a 12-1, five-inning victory.
UIC pounded out 15 hits in the contest, highlighted by a 3-for-3, two RBI outing from Leyden and a 3-for-5 performance from senior Jennifer Tiffany. Junior Emily Hallmann also went 2-for-4 with a trio of RBI.
Sophomore Alison Aguilar (10-7) worked all five innings in the circle for the Flames, allowing just one run while striking out three.
UIC will look to get back on track on Tuesday afternoon as they travel to DeKalb, Ill., to meet Northern Illinois in a non-conference doubleheader at 4:00 p.m.
NOTES: The Flames win over Butler in the first game marked UIC's first road win of the season (1-6)...UIC has now split its conference opening doubleheader in each of the last three seasons...Senior Jennifer Tiffany (.444 avg.) has now tallied a hit in 32 of UIC's 35 games this season...Senior Edel Leyden is now just three hits shy of career hit No. 300.
