March 25, 2008
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score |
Chicago, Ill. - The UIC softball team suffered a setback on Tuesday night with two losses against Illinois in its home opener at Flames Field.
UIC's Ashlee Ackerman was 2-for-5 at the plate in two games with one run and two RBI. Brittany Dixon totaled two hits, while Melissa Marinacci was 2-for-6 at the plate with one run and one RBI. Sarah Clynes notched two hits, one run, one triple and an RBI on the night.
Illinois 17, UIC 3 (5 innings)
Illinois' nine runs in the top of the third inning helped guide the team to a 17-3 win over UIC after five innings of play.
The Fighting Illini got on the board in the top of the first inning on a solo shot to left field from Angelena Mexicano. Shanna Driller then ripped a double to left center, followed by an RBI double to left field from Lana Armstrong for the 2-0 lead.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the third inning when Illinois' bats came alive with nine runs on eight hits. Mexicano, Diller and Hollie Pinchback each picked up an RBI.
With the bases loaded, UIC's Carly DeMarco relieved Clynes in the circle. Bryers then drilled a four-run blast to centerfield. Armstrong capped the inning with an RBI double to give the Fighting Illini an 11-0 advantage.
UIC (9-20) battled back in the bottom-half of the inning with an RBI from Ackerman and Marinacci to get two on the board (11-2).
Illinois added two more runs in the top of the fourth with an RBI single to left center from Bryers and an RBI single to left field from Mexicano. Ackerman singled through the right side, sending Nikki Rogers home to cut the deficit to 10 runs.
Illinois tacked on four more in the top of the fifth and held UIC in the bottom-half of the frame to capture the 17-3 win after five innings.
Clynes falls to 5-11 overall in the circle, while Illinois pitcher Claire DeVreese moves to 11-10 on the season.
Illinois 11, UIC 2
Despite six strikeouts from UIC pitcher Whitney Orellana, the Flames fell to Illinois in game two, 11-2.
The Fighting Illini wasted no time with three runs in the top of the first inning. Diller, Armstrong and Pinchback each notched an RBI, giving UI an early 3-0 lead.
Illinois added three more runs in the top if the third inning before the Flames earned their first run of the game on an RBI single to left field from Clynes.
The Fighting Illini continued to produce at the plate with three more runs in the top of the sixth inning. UIC got things started in the bottom-half of the frame with one run, but Illinois cut it short with two more runs in the top of the seventh inning (11-2).
UIC hosts Notre Dame on Thursday, March 27 at 5 p.m.
