March 10, 2007
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Nikki Rogers drove in the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead Illinois-Chicago (7-13) past No. 19 Georgia Tech (24-4), 4-3, on Saturday at the USF adidas Invitational. Senior Caitlin Lever led the Yellow Jackets, going 2-for-3, with a double, triple and one RBI.
UIC’s Sarah Clynes (6-6) worked all 7.0 innings, scattering seven hits, three earned runs and struck out three. Brittany Dixon led the Flames offensively, going 2-for-4, with a home run and two runs batted in.
Junior Whitney Humphreys (10-2) suffered the loss in relief, throwing 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run. Senior Sarah Wood (3-0) had a no decision, working 5.0 innings, giving up four hits, three earned runs and fanned five.
The Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning as Lever doubled to right-center field and junior Savannah Brown singled to right field to score her from second.
The Flames’ Dixon hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to give UIC a 2-1 lead after three complete innings of play.
Brown led off the fourth inning with a double down the right field line, stole third base and scored on a throwing error by the catcher as the game was tied at 2-2.
The Flames took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning as Nicole Robinson singled with two outs as the Jackets trailed for the second time in the game, 3-2.
Tech answered in the top of the sixth inning as Lever led off with a triple off the right field fence and scored on a RBI single by junior Brittany Barnes as the game moved to the seventh inning tied at 3-3.
Once again UIC was able to take the lead, this time to win the game as Rogers hit a bloop single up the middle that neither infielder could get to in time as the Flames ended the Jackets’ eight-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory.
Tech scored three runs, on seven hits and had no errors, while the Flames scored four runs, on six hits and had two errors.
The Yellow Jackets will face Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. tonight in the quarterfinals of the Gold Championship Bracket. The game can be followed via live stats on www.ramblinwreck.com.
-30-
