Horizon League Softball Championship Game Two: UIC 7, Youngstown State 0

May 8, 2008

CHICAGO - The University of Illinois at Chicago beat Youngstown State University 7-0 in game two of the Horizon League Championship at Loyola Softball Park. The Flames will advance to the second round and faceoff against Valparaiso at 6:00 p.m., while the Penguins will take on Butler University at 9:00 a.m. on Friday.

UIC starter Sarah Clynes earned a complete-game victory to collect her 14th win on the year. Clynes worked 7.0 innings, struck out four and allowed just two hits. In addition, the junior hurler held the Penguins without a hit for 5.2 innings.

Youngstown State senior left-hander Becky Hibner took the loss and fell to 1-9 on the year.

Offensively, UIC out hit Youngstown State 6-2 and improved to 21-5 when out hitting its opponent. The Flames also ran their record to 16-1 when leading after six innings.

Both teams were held scoreless for the first four and a half innings of play until UIC got on the board with three runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Freshman Ashlee Ackerman was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. She then moved into scoring position by stealing second before advancing to third on an infield single to third by senior Ashlee Ackerman.

Freshman Alicia Abbott, who was selected as the 2008 Newcomer of the Year, came up next and cleared the bases with a three-run home run to right field.

UIC struck again in the sixth inning with three runs to increase its lead to 7-0. Senior first-baseman Lauren Brennen, Clynes and sophomore infielder Brooke Frydendall each collected RBIs in the frame.

In the top half of the seventh, Youngstown State had its first two batters get on base, but the Penguins were unable to score.

For complete coverage of the 2008 Horizon League Softball Championship check out the tournament homepage at www.horizonleague.org.