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Softball Snaps Losing Skid, Defeats Northern Colorado, 3-0
March 13, 2010
TUCSON - Stephanie Chavez's two-run homer in the fifth would give the UIC softball team a lead they would never relinquish in a 3-0 victory over Northern Colorado at the Wildcat Invitational on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Flames (5-12) broke out of a nine-game losing streak. After a silent first four innings that saw UIC strand five on base, pinch hitter Coryn Schmit lead of the fifth with a single to left field. A sac bunt from Melinda Macais moved pinch runner Kara Komp to second, but would be a moot move as Chavez would blast her second homer of the season for a 2-0 lead. Northern Colorado looked poised to respond in the bottom of the inning with a blast out to the left field gap for a standup double, but a rocket throw from Carly DeMarco to Kelsey Sturgeon tagged out Jessica McNabb at third as she got greedy going for a triple. Shannon Kehr closed out the inning with a great running foul ball grab to keep the Flames on top through five. The Flames padded their lead in the top of the seventh off a sac fly RBI from Brooke Frydendall, driving in Macias who got on base with a double to the centerfield wall. Starter Devin Miller kept the Bears hitless through two innings, and Whitney Orellana gave up a scant two hits in the final five innings for her first victory this year.
"It was a great win for the team," said head coach Michelle Venturella. "We've been battling all season long, but it was great to see people step up and I'm pleased we scored a run in the seventh. We didn't sit on our lead from the fifth, and we finished the game strongly." The win marks UIC's first shutout victory of the season. UIC will have the afternoon off before taking on Creighton this evening at 8 p.m. |
