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Softball's Valliant Comeback Efforts Fall Short Against St. John's
March 14, 2010
TUCSON - The UIC softball team closed within a run of St. John's in the bottom of the seventh, but their comeback fell short in a 4-3 loss in the Wildcat Invitational finale at Hillenbrand Stadium Sunday morning. The Flames (6-13) closed out the weekend with a 2-3 record, defeating Northern Colorado and Creighton on Saturday after loses to Minnesota and Arizona on Friday afternoon. St. Johns (9-10) would put a run on the board in both of the first two innings, one off an illegal pitch and the other from a sacrifice fly. Brooke Frydendall got the Flames first hit of the morning in the third with a stand up double to center field, her fourth consecutive game with a hit. A wild pitch during Coryn Schmit's at bat would move the senior to third, but pitcher Kat Lawrence would strike out the side for a 2-0 St. John's lead. A two-run homer from Kristi Cady would extend the Red Storm's lead in the third, and Lawrence would extend her strikeout spree to six by fanning three straight in the bottom of the inning. The Flames held St. John's runless for the first time in the fourth, and responded with a solo home run from Shannon Kehr, her fifth of the season. With two outs in the top of the seventh, St. Johns looked to put up some insurance runs with a bunt that took a highly strange bounce in front of pitcher Ashley Hewett. But quick thinking prevailed as the Flames tagged a runner out at the plate with a 1-5-2 play, entering the bottom of the inning with a three-run deficit. Carly DeMarco opened the inning with a double that got her to third after an outfield error. Schmit would drive her in on the next at bat with a double of her own, cutting St. John's lead to two.
After a ferocious battle with Lawrence, Claire Donyanavard was triumphant in driving Schmit home for a 4-3 Red Storm lead. Unfortunately, Donyanavard was called out going to second, and a strikeout from Christie Seddon got UIC back up to the top of the lineup with a lone out remaining. Melinda Macias' hit went straight at the pitcher's shin and hobbled her, but Lawrence was able to get the ball to first for a 4-3 final. The Flames return west for the final weekend tournament of the season in San Diego next weekend, starting with a matchup with Massachusetts on Friday at 4 p.m. CST. |
