May 11, 2002
Box Score
Dayton, Ohio - The top-seeded UIC softball team wrapped up a dominant weekend at the 2002 Horizon League Championships on Saturday afternoon, capturing an unprecedented fifth straight title with an 8-1 victory over #6 Butler at Stuart Field.
The Flames, who hit .465 (53-for-114) as a team in the tournament, used both solid hitting and pitching en route to the league crown, outscoring their opponents 37-3 en route to the championship to set a new tournament run-scoring record. UIC has now also won 17 straight tournament games dating back to 1997.
UIC now advances to the NCAA Regional Championships for the fifth consecutive season. The Flames will learn their opponent and destination for next week's regional on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. when the pairings are announced.
On Saturday, UIC had to battle past an upset-minded Butler squad, which advanced to the title game by taking out #2 Loyola, 4-2, earlier in the day.
The Bulldogs carried some of their momentum from their win over the Ramblers into their contest with the Flames, jumping out early on starter Alison Aguilar as the first three batters recorded hits to load the bases. Aguilar would dodge a bullet in the frame, though, allowing just one run to score on a groundout by Jess Stephens.
After BU starter Lynn Hohs retired UIC without harm in the first two innings, the Flames finally broke through in the bottom of the third inning with a five-run outburst.
Senior Amy Gonzales opened the inning with a walk, then senior Edel Leyden tied the score with a RBI triple. Tiffany followed with a walk, and would later score behind Leyden when rookie Sara Hernandez doubled home a pair to put UIC ahead, 3-1. Senior Amber Stachura and freshman Cameron Astiazaran would also both add RBI singles in the inning as the Flames took a commanding 5-1 advantage.
UIC would add to its lead in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Amanda Rivera and a RBI double by Astiazaran. For River, it was her third home run of the tournament and 14th of the season.
The Flames would put up their final tally in the fifth when Gonzales scored on an error by Bulldog shortstop Andrea Walker.
Eight runs was more than enough for UIC hurler Aguilar. The Horizon League's Co-Pitcher of the Year struck out six on the day and allowed just four hits after the first inning to move to 10-0 this year against league opponents. She is 22-9 overall.
Following the game, UIC's Amanda Rivera was named tournament MVP, while Aguilar was honored as the pitcher of the tournament. Rivera batted .500 at the event with a Horizon League Tournament record three home runs and five RBI. The sophomore was also walked a tournament record five times. Aguilar, meanwhile, went 3-0 in the tournament with a 0.39 ERA.
Aguilar and Rivera were joined by teammates Edel Leyden, Amber Stachura, Jennifer Tiffany and Jacquelyne Vaca on the 2002 Horizon League All-Tournament Team.
