March 8, 2007
Clearwater, Florida - The UIC softball team split in the opening day of the USF Adidas Invitational in Clearwater, Florida. The Flames (5-12) tamed in-state rival Northern Illinois, 3-1, in the first game of the tournament. Tennessee Tech then topped UIC for the second time in a week as the Golden Eagles defeated the Flames in extra innings, 3-2.
UIC 3, Northern Illinois 1
Sophomore Sarah Clynes guided the UIC softball team to a 3-1 victory over in-state rival Northern Illinois with eight strikeouts in six innings pitched. Clynes moves to 4-6 on the season with the win.
The Huskies got on the scoreboard in the top of the first on an RBI single from Randi Kreiter, but UIC answered in the bottom half of the inning.
Junior Ashlee Ackerman singled, followed by a sacrifice bunt by junior Brittany Dixon to move the center fielder into scoring position.
Clynes then ripped an RBI single to send Ackerman home and tie the game at 1-1. The Flames added a run in the fourth on Clynes' second RBI single of the game. UIC took a 3-1 lead on an Ackerman RBI single to left field.
Tennessee Tech 3, UIC 2 (8 innings)
UIC fell short against Tennessee Tech for the second time in less than a week on Thursday afternoon, 3-2, in eight innings.
UIC catcher Nikki Rogers led the Flames against Tennessee Tech with one hit and two RBI. Dixon and Clynes each picked up a hit, while Rogers and junior Nicole Robinson recorded doubles on the afternoon.
Kristyna Castonzo was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Krystina Dobbs and Stephanie Fischer were 2-for-4 with one run scored a piece.
With one out in the top of the second inning, senior Liz Jacoby ripped a double to center field. Following two walks from Golden Eagle pitcher Bonnie Bynum, Rogers drilled an two-run RBI double for the early 2-0 advantage.
Tennessee Tech tied it up in the fourth on RBI from Castonzo and Bynum.
Knotted at 2-2 at the end of seven innings, Rogers was placed on second base. Ackerman sacrificed bunted to move Rogers into scoring position, but UIC's next two batters popped out to close out the top of the eighth inning.
TTU's Fischer was then placed on second, followed by an RBI double to left field from Castonzo for the 3-2 win.
The Flames face Indiana and previously ranked UMass on Friday, March 8 at the USF Adidas Invite. UIC is set to battle the Hoosiers at 10:00 a.m., followed by a 3:00 p.m. start time against the Minutewomen.
