Box Score May 9, 2010
Box Score
CHICAGO- The UIC softball team heads into the 2010 Horizon League Softball Championship as the third seed after a 5-1 loss to Wright State at Flames Field to conclude the regular season on Mother's Day.
The Flames (22-33, 15-9 Horizon League) will begin the league tournament, hosted by top-seeded Cleveland State, this Thursday, May 13 at 10 a.m. Central against sixth-seeded Butler.
UIC was unable to muster any offense after scoring Sunday's opening run in the bottom of the first. Brooke Frydendall hit a sharp two-out single to left and stole second moments later, setting up Shannon Kehr's ducksnort single down the rightfield line to drive in Frydendall.
Wright State (26-27-1, 16-8 Horizon League) answered with a two-out run of its own in the next half-inning on Allison Cox's game-tying RBI double, and after a sacrifice fly to left by Justine Shilt brought in the go-ahead run on a close play at the plate, the Raiders took control with a three-run fourth against starter Devin Miller.
The big blow in the fourth was a two-out, two-run double hit by Kristen Bradshaw moments after Miller's fielding error on a ball hit by Briauna Birl.
The Flames were unable to do much else on offense, recording only two hits in the game's final six frames.
Despite the loss, UIC heads into the tournament having won 13 of its last 18 contests, giving head coach Michelle Venturella plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the Flames' chances.
"We're obviously disappointed about not coming away with a win today, but we're excited to have a chance to do well in the tournament," said Venturella. "We've seen so many good things out of all of the kids this past month, and we hope to see it through to the end."
Prior to the game, Venturella and the UIC softball program honored seniors Frydendall and Stephanie Chavez, as well as their parents in attendance, before their final home game as part of Senior Day festivities.
Stay tuned to uicflames.com for more on the UIC softball team as the Flames compete for the Horizon League title this week.
