March 10, 2007
Clearwater, Florida - Western Michigan knocked UIC softball out of USF Adidas Invite tournament play on Saturday afternoon, 14-4. The Flames move to 7-14 overall and record a 3-3 mark on the weekend.
Sophomore Sarah Clynes was 2-for-3 against the Broncos. Freshman Stephanie Chavez picked up a hit and two RBI. Junior Mallory Studzinski notched a hit and an RBI.
Chelsea Fuemmeler moves to 1-8 in the circle for the Flames.
Western Michigan struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. UIC cut the Broncos lead to one run in the top of the second inning on an RBI single from Studzinski, but WMU gained back the run in the third.
The Broncos tacked on seven runs in the fourth to lead, 9-1. The Flames responded and cut the deficit in the fifth with four runs (9-6).
With the based loaded, senior Liz Jacoby drew a walk. Pinch hitting for the Flames, freshman Brooke Frydendall then drove in a run, followed by a two-run RBI single by Chavez.
After picking up two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, Western Michigan's Becky Bartosz hit a three-run homer to end the game after five innings, 14-5.
With next weekend off, UIC is back on the ball field on March 21, when they face Illinois for the first time in school history in a regular season contest. The game is set for a 4:00 p.m. start in Champaign, Ill.