April 21, 2010

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

CHICAGO - The UIC softball team played 19 innings on Wednesday afternoon, emerging victorious in a doubleheader sweep of Green Bay at Flames Field.

The Flames (13-29, 6-6 Horizon) wrap-up the three game series against the Phoenix (19-14, 5-8 Horizon) on Thursday with a new start time of 1 p.m.

GAME ONE: UIC 2, Green Bay 1 (11 Inn.)
The inaugural contest was slow to start offensively as both sides would collectively strand a mere three baserunners in the first four innings.

UIC would strike first in the fifth as Claire Donyanavard would reach after being struck by a pitch from Phoenix hurler Katie Cooney. Pinch runner Christie Seddon would move on to second after an infield groundout, and with two outs, Teresa Aguilar would bring Seddon home off a RBI single into left field for a 1-0 lead.

Green Bay would answer back with one out in the seventh, beginning with thirdbaseman Dani Peerenboom advancing to first after being hit by a pitch.

Peerenboom would move to second when pinch hitter Jessica Hrncar hit a single straight up the middle, and would score off a right-field double from firstbaseman Alli Rivera to tie the contest at 1-1. Hrncar, the go-ahead run, was advancing home to give Green Bay the lead when she slipped and would consequently be tagged out at third in what would prove to be a crucial play by the Flames' defense, who turned three double-plays in the game.

With no answer in the bottom of the frame, the game played on as neither side had many chances until the bottom of the 11th. Stephanie Chavez would reach on an infield error with one out, and would slide over to second off a left-field single from fellow senior Brooke Frydendall.

Pitcher Ashley Hewett, who gave up only five hits and fanned a season-best 11 batters, would assure herself the win in the circle as her single out to right-center field would be deep enough to bring Chavez home for the Flames' first extra-inning win of the season.

GAME TWO: UIC 5, Green Bay 4 (Eight Inn.)
Green Bay would open the nightcap with a three-run homer from Peerenboom well-over the right field wall. Chavez would begin the Flames' offensive efforts with one out in the first with her first triple of the season, and subsequently score amidst the first of six Phoenix errors during the second game.

Chavez would continue UIC's efforts to chip away at Green Bay's lead with a solo home run in the third to cut the Flames' deficit to one. After a considerably quiet first game, Melinda Macias would drive in Coryn Schmit for a tie game at three apiece.

But Green Bay would answer back in the top of the fifth when shortstop Sara Junion's double to right-center field would bring in Kenda Woopse to give the Phoenix a 4-3 lead.

With the Flames down to their final out in the bottom of the seventh, Carly DeMarco would reach on a throwing error from Peerenboom and advance to second. Like in the first contest of the day, Aguliar would bring DeMarco home off an outfielder single to tie the game at 4-4.

After thwarting Green Bay in the top of the eighth, Macias would single straight up the middle and move over to second off a Chavez ground-out. Frydendall's left-field single would move Macias to third, and after the Phoenix intentionally walked Hewett, Shannon Kehr would strike at the chance to play hero in the second contest as her single along the left-field line would get through the infield and bring Macias home.

Hewett would pick up her second win of the day in the circle after coming in the sixth inning, giving up one hit and striking out three.