Feb. 24, 2001

Box Score

NFCA/Leadoff Classic

Pool Play

Game #3

#6 LSU 8, UIC 0 (6 innings)

Columbus, Ga. - Freshman Amanda Ritchie was given a daunting task as UIC head softball coach Mike McGovern handed her the ball for her first collegiate start on Saturday in the Flames' final game of pool play at the 2001 NFCA/Leadoff Classic.

Shutdown the #6 team in the country, the LSU Tigers.

For four innings the rookie answered the call, shutting down LSU as the game remained scoreless.

In the fifth, though, the Tigers finally scratched the scoreboard as they plated their first run on an RBI groundout. And in the sixth, Ritchie couldn't hold the Tigers at bay any longer as Trena Peel's grand slam paced a seven-run inning for LSU and the eventual 8-0 Tiger victory.

The Flames (9-10), who were shutout for the third straight game and finished 0-3 in their pool , tallied three hits in the contest and did post a scoring threat early in the game. With the contest scoreless in the bottom of the fourth inning, singles by Stefanie Christoferson and Jacquelyne Vaca put runners on the corners with two outs. Emily Hallman's RBI groundout ended the rally and UIC would tally just one hit the rest of the way en route to its fourth-straight defeat.

Ritchie, who looked good early versus the Tigers, picked up the loss and dropped to 0-1 on the season.

UIC is now awaiting its opponent in elimination play with its next contest at either 5:30 p.m., or 8:30 p.m., in the Bronze Bracket of the tournament.