April 1, 2006
Cleveland, Ohio-Battling Cleveland State in the opening weekend of Horizon League action, the Flames grabbed their first conference win after rolling past the Vikings, 11-1, in game one of the doubleheader on 15 hits in six innings. The Flames fell to CSU in game two, 4-3, moving to 10-22 overall and 1-1 in league play. The three-game series will wrap up on Sunday, April 2nd at 12 pm (EST).
Game One: UIC 11, CSU 1
Scoreless after two innings, the Flames ripped two straight down the right field line. CSU pitcher Grace Luginbuhl walked Nikki Shepard to load the bases before Joyce Cathey hit one up the middle for a 1-0 lead.
Second baseman Nicole Robinson extended UIC's cushion with a triple, sending three Flames home. UIC wrapped up the inning with a 5-0 lead on six hits. Senior Kortney Spidell replaced Luginbuhl in the circle for the Vikings.
Cleveland State threatened in the bottom of the third with one out and two on base, but the Flames turned a double play to end the inning.
The Flames piled on six more runs in three innings to lead 11-0. Heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Vikings scored one before UIC clinched an 11-1 victory in six innings.
Sarah Clynes picks up her fifth win on the season to improve her overall record to 5-5. The freshman posted seven strikeouts in 21 at bats, only allowing one run on the afternoon.
Cleveland's Grace Luginbuhl moves to 9-3 on the season.
Game Two: CSU 5, UIC 4
UIC's Brittany Dixon opened the top of the third with a single up the middle, followed by a double by Nikki Shepard, sending Dixon home. Clean-up hitter Joyce Cathey then belted her fifth home run of the season to give the Flames a 3-0 lead in the third.
CSU first baseman Sarah Milosek closed UIC's advantage on a RBI single into left field in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Cleveland State's Michelle Nicholas cut the deficit with a short pop up between the pitcher and shortstop, followed by a walk by UIC pitcher Kelly Cross to tie the game at 3-3.
Senior Brittany McIntyre entered the game after one batter in the bottom of the fifth. Cleveland State took a 4-3 lead on an RBI single deep into centerfield by Michelle Penny.
With a Viking on third, Whitney Willard gave CSU a two-run advantage after pinch- runner Amy Lowe crossed the plate when the Flames attempted to turn two.
UIC rallied in the top of the seventh to trail CSU 5-4, but the Vikings grabbed two consecutive outs to earn a 4-3 triumph in game two of the three-game series.
Kelly Cross moves to 4-9 in circle and Christina Swierz picks up her first win of the season (1-0) on her first appearance of the year.
UIC travels to Butler on Tuesday, April 4th for a doubleheader, which is slated to begin at 2:30 pm (EST).
