May 13, 2006

Box Score

Canfield, Ohio - Youngstown State senior Tiffany Patteson's walk-off home run ended the UIC softball team's season as the Penguins claimed the 2006 Horizon League Tournament title with a 2-1 victory over the Flames at McCune Park on Saturday afternoon.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Patteson homered to right field off UIC freshman Sarah Clynes to send Youngstown State to the NCAA Regional Championships.

Clynes, who was named Pitcher of the Tournament following the event, suffered the loss after allowing two runs on five hits while striking out eight. She concludes her rookie campaign with a record of 16-7.

The two earned runs allowed by Clynes were the first two she had surrendered in four starts during the tournament.

Penguins starter Karlie Burnell picked up her fourth win of the tournament in the circle, limiting the Flames to just one run on seven hits to move to 16-8 on the year.

UIC scratched the scoreboard first in the championship game via an RBI single from senior Nicole Shepard (2-for-3) in the top of the first inning.

The score remained 1-0 Flames until the bottom of the sixth when McKenzie Bedra, the tournament MVP, hit a solo home run with two outs to tie the game.

Shepard and Clynes were joined by junior Elizabeth Jacoby on the All-Tournament Team.

The Flames, the 2006 Horizon League regular-season champions, finish the year with a record of 26-33.