May 10, 2007

Box Score

Cleveland, Ohio - UIC (19-31) defeated 2006 Horizon League Tournament champion Youngstown State, 1-0, in the opening round of the 2007 conference tournament on Thursday afternoon. With the win, the Flames face the winner of the No. 1 Loyola/No. 8 Detroit game on Friday, May 11 at 10:00 a.m. CST.

2007 Horizon League Co-Player of the Year Sarah Clynes paced UIC at the plate and in the circle. Clynes went 2-for-4 at the dish while fanning eight batters en route to her fifth shutout of the season. The sophomore totaled 58 strikes in 78 pitches, moving her record to 15-16 on the season.

Ashlee Ackerman was 1-for-3 with UIC's lone run. Juniors Mallory Studzinski and Brittany Dixon and sophomore Melissa Marinacci also went 1-for-3 on the day. Clynes and Studzinski each notched a double against the Penguins.

The game was scoreless heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. Clynes doubled to right center with one out, followed by a single from Ackerman, who advanced to second on the throw. Elizabeth Jacoby then drew a walk to load the bases.

Freshman Brooke Frydendall reached first base on a fielder's choice while Clynes was thrown out at home, but Ackerman scored what proved to be the winning run when the catcher made a throwing error down to first base.

UIC held the Penguins in the sixth and seventh inning to capture the 1-0 victory.