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May 8, 2009

Box Score

Updated 2009 Horizon League Tournament Bracket in PDF Format

PENDLETON, Ind. - The UIC softball team suffered a Friday evening setback at the hands of Cleveland State at the 2009 Horizon League Championships, falling 8-5 to the Vikings in the tournament semifinal game.

While Cleveland State (34-15) would open with a four-run first, including a two-run homer from shortstop Natalie DeMatteis, the Flames (25-25) wouldn't allow the Vikings to take the momentum in the games early stages.

In the bottom of the first, Stephanie Chavez jacked a two-out single straight up the middle, quickly followed by a hard shot along the left-field line by Brooke Frydendall to move Chavez to second.

With a full count, Melissa Marinacci sent a ball sky high, and the Vikings rightfielder misplayed it, allowing Chavez to score. The rightfielder then errantly threw the ball past the thirdbasemen, giving Frydendall the opportunity to score as well, sending Marinacci all the way to third.

Ashley Hewett would place a ball right along the left field line to drive Marinacci in, cutting the Vikings lead to a single run, 4-3.

With the game silent in the second through fourth innings for the Vikings, Melinda Macias two-out fielders choice drove in Alicia Abbott, who opened the inning with a centerfield single, which would tie things up at 4-4.

Cleveland State would break open the game with a four-run fifth, as the top of the Vikings lineup would produce four hits to take the 8-4 lead.

UIC's comeback would fall short, as an error on CSU's shortstop after a hit by Abbott would allow Marinacci to score in the fifth, cutting the lead to three.

The Flames did what they needed to do to keep the game in reach, closing out the sixth with three Vikings stranded on base, as the inning ended with a great leaping lineout to Shannon Kehr to keep the contest close.

League pitcher of the year Amanda Macenko kept the Flames bats quiet, as UIC was hitless in the final two frames of the evening, and Cleveland State closed out the game with the 8-5 final margin.

Clynes would be charged with the loss, moving her to 7-14 on the season. Marinacci would go 2-for-4 with a pair of runs, and Hewett would strike out six in her 4.1 innings of work in the circle.

With the double-elimination tournament format, the Flames await the winner of a pair of contests, beginning with Butler/Loyola, as the winner will face Wright State on Saturday morning before facing UIC at 1 p.m. The winner then advance to the championship game at 3 p.m.

UIC Flames Softball

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