March 21, 2007
Box Score
Urbana, Ill. - On a windy night at Eichelberger Field, it was the battle of home runs in UIC's first regular season matchup in school history versus Illinois. The Fighting Illini totaled five homers, while the Flames picked up three on Wednesday night. A strong offensive performance guided Illinois to an 18-4 victory over UIC in five innings.
Seniors Liz Jacoby, Becky Moran and sophomore Sarah Clynes each notched home runs against Illinois. Jacoby was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer. Clynes posted a .328 batting average with one RBI and one run scored.
Illinois' Makenzie Smith led the Fighting Illini with two home runs, including a grand slam in the third inning. Molly Lawhead was 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored, four RBI and one home run. Shanna Diller was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, one homer and three RBI. Lana Armstrong was 2-for-3 with three runs, four RBI and one home run.
Illinois' Vicky Brown (11-3) picks up the win in the circle, while Clynes moves to 6-7 on the season.
Brown kicked off UI's home opener on a walk, sending Ashlee Ackerman to first base. Brittany Dixon advanced Ackerman on a sacrifice bunt, followed by two-run homer by Jacoby in the top of the first inning with two outs to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Fighting Illini tied it in the bottom half of the inning with two solo home runs from Miller and Smith. Lawhead tacked on a solo homer to centerfield in the bottom of the second inning to give Illinois a 3-2 advantage (3-2).
Armstrong then notched her seventh home run of the season in the third for a two-run lead. With the based loaded, sophomore Lauren Brennan replaced Clynes in the circle for the Flames.
Illinois drew three walks with the bases loaded before Smith notched her second homer on the night with a grand slam to left field (12-2). Lawhead then ripped a one-run RBI to left field for a 13-2 lead.
Freshman Chelsea Fuemmeler came in to pitch for Brennan in the bottom of the third.
UIC's Moran belted a solo homer over left field in the top of the fourth.
Illinois' Diller drove in Hope Howell, followed by a two-run double from Armstrong. Sydney Lissy then tabbed an RBI, followed by a triple from Kisten Martin (18-3).
Clynes picked up her first home run of the season in the top of the fifth (18-4), but Illinois went on to capture the victory after five innings.
The Flames wrap up tournament play this weekend at the IU Classic in Bloomington, Ind. March 23-25. UIC battles host Indiana for the second time in two weeks, in addition to Buffalo and Eastern Michigan.
The Flames handed the Hoosiers a 2-0 shutout at the USF Adidas Invitational on March 9.
