Feb. 9, 2007

Box Score

Las Vegas, Nevada - The UIC softball team kicked off the 2007 season with a 1-1 start on Friday at the Alexis Resort Classic in Las Vegas. Hosted by UNLV, the Flames opened the season with a 7-4 victory over Nicholls State. Scoreless for five innings in game two, Marshall scored three runs late in the contest to sneak past UIC, 3-0.

UIC 7, Nicholls State 4 - The Flames handed Nicholls State at 7-4 loss early this afternoon in each of the school's first contest of the 2007 season. Sophomore Sarah Clynes was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while junior Brittany Dixon was 3-for-5 at the plate. Senior Liz Jacoby and junior Nicole Robinson each contributed two RBI against the Colonels.

With 48 record breaking stolen bases as a freshman at Arizona Western Community College, junior transfer Ashlee Ackerman wasted no time, notching her first stolen base of the season in the sixth inning.

UIC went on the board in the top of the first inning after Marinacci was walked with the bases loaded, sending Clynes home for a 1-0 lead. Nicholls State tied it up on an RBI single to center field by second baseman Danielle Clayton.

Scoreless in the second inning, UIC tacked on three more runs on an RBI single from Robinson in the third and two RBI from Jacoby in the fourth.

The Colonels held the Flames in the fifth, while closing the three-run deficit to one (4-3) after shortstop Kathryn Harrell and center fielder Kodi Butler tabbed back-to-back RBI.

UIC responded in the sixth with two additional runs. Ackerman and Clynes each ripped a single to left-center, followed by an error by Nicholls State shortstop Harrell to send Ackerman across the plate. With two on base and only one out, Robinson hit a sacrifice fly to center field, sending Jacoby home (6-3).

The Colonel picked up another run in the bottom half of the sixth, but the Flames gained the run back in the top half of the seventh. The Flames held Nicholls State in the final three outs to capture a 7-4 victory in their season opener.

On six strikeouts in seven innings, sophomore Sarah Clynes picked up the win in the circle.

Marshall 3, UIC 0 Freshman Chelsea Fuemmeler made her collegiate debut in the circle for the Flames against Marshall, allowing three runs and seven hits in seven innings. Despite a tough defensive showing, the Flames fell to the Thundering Herd, 3-0.

Robinson, junior Mallory Studzinki, Ackerman and Jacoby each picked up a hit in game two.

Scoreless for the first five innings, Marshall's Gina Guzzo reached on a fielder's choice, sending left fielder Rachel Sofie home for a 1-0 advantage.

Jacoby hit a double to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning to get into scoring position, but the Flames were unable to capitalize.

Holding UIC in the sixth, Marshall added two more runs in the seventh to top UIC, 3-0.

The Flames resume play on Saturday when they face Tulsa at 11:00 a.m. CST, followed by a 3:30 p.m. showdown against Pacific at 3:30 p.m.