April 2, 2003
Box Score
Evanston, Ill. -UIC freshman Joyce Cathey was thrown out at the plate attempting to score the tying run in the top of the seventh inning as the Flames dropped a non-conference decision to host Northwestern on Wednesday afternoon, 5-4, at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the seventh inning, and UIC (8-26) trailing 5-2, sophomore Cameron Astiazaran (2-for-4, career high 3 RBI) drove a single into center that hopped past NU (18-10) centerfielder Jessie Wellnitz.
Meghan Gallagher and Trista Korbas, who both had singled earlier in the frame, scored, but Cathey was thrown out at the plate attempting to tie the game. Cathey beat the relay throw home, but was tagged out as catcher Jamie Dotson blocked the plate perfectly.
The Flames had one more chance to tie the game as Astiazaran advanced all the way to third on the previous play, but NU starter Courtney Foster fanned freshman Nicole Shepard to end the game.
Foster, who picked up the win to move to 9-5 on the year, struck out 13 Flames on the day while pitching out of jams in the fifth and seventh inning. UIC starter Alison Aguilar (3-11) lasted just three innings, getting tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits.
The Wildcats would strike early on Wednesday, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Erin Mobley started NU's rally with an RBI double. Cindy Muran later singled to drive in the Wildcats second run.
Northwestern added to its lead in the third inning, as J.C. Kira launched a two-run homer off the scoreboard in left field for a 4-0 Wildcat advantage. It was Kira's first career home run.
UIC put together a rally of its own in the top of the fifth inning, plating a pair of runs to cut Northwestern's lead to 4-2. The Flames tallied their first run on an errant throw by Wildcat shortstop Ashley Crane, then added another on a bases loaded single by Astiazran.
Northwestern added what proved to be a very important insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Carri Leto off reliever Alycia Creese.
The Flames will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as they open the 2003 home schedule by welcoming Horizon League rival, Butler, to Flames Field for a doubleheader at 4:00 p.m.
