By: Jill Wunrow
GreenBayPhoenix.com
CHICAGO, Ill. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The Green Bay (19-19, 8-7 HL) softball team began its
eight game road stretch with a three-game series against Horizon League
opponent UIC (21-23, 7-7 HL) Wednesday, April 25 at Flames Field in Chicago,
Ill.
After trailing 2-0 early in game one
of its doubleheader, Green Bay came from behind to force extra innings of play
against the Flames before falling 5-4 in the 10th inning and 9-1 in game two of
its doubleheader, snapping Green Bay's four-game winning streak.
GAME 1 - GREEN BAY 4, UIC 5 - With one out in the bottom of the first inning, the Flames'
hit a two-run homer to left field for the early 2-0 lead.
After three scoreless innings and
with two outs on the board in the top of the fourth, Stacey Butts (Greenfield,
Wis.) hit a single up the middle before Alli Rivera (Geneseo, Ill.) earned a
walk to reach base. Paige Newtols (Green Bay, Wis.) followed with an RBI single
to center field, scoring Butts to cut UIC's lead to 2-1. The Phoenix registered
one run on two hits while stranding two runners on base in the inning.
With two outs in the top of the
seventh inning, Green Bay took the 3-2 lead with one
runner on base when Danielle Peerenboom (Appleton, Wis.) hit a two-run homer to
left field, scoring Amanda Omahen (San Diego, Calif.).
UIC answered in the bottom of the
frame with a lead-off homerun to center field, knotting the game 3-3. Green Bay
retired the next three batters, forcing the game into extra innings of play.
It was a scoreless eighth inning
before Amanda Pozolinski (Appleton, Wis.) led off the ninth with a double to
left field and later advancing to third after a sacrifice bunt by Omahen. Peerenboom
followed with a SAC fly to left field, scoring Pozolinski for the 4-3 edge.
Jessica Hrncar (Bristol, Wis.) added a single in the inning but the Phoenix could
not convert as it stranded one runner on base to close the inning.
With one out, the Flames added a
double of its own in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on first and second,
UIC hit an RBI single, advancing the runners to second and third on the throw
before tagging out a runner at home while allowing another to score. Green Bay's
quick defense tied the game 4-4 at the end of nine innings of play.
Rivera led off the 10th inning with a
single up the middle before advancing to second off a sacrifice bunt by
Newtols. Shannon Butts (Greenfield, Wis.) and Ashleigh Racer (Waterford, Wis.)
both grounded out to third base, stranding Rivera on base.
With one out in bottom of the 10th,
UIC hit a walk-off homerun to edge the Phoenix 5-4.
Pitcher Alli Goecks (Beloit, Wis.)
went the distance for the Phoenix from the mound, striking out seven batters
while Peerenboom led the Phoenix with one homerun, three RBIs, one run and one
hit.
GAME 2 - GREEN BAY 1, UIC 9 - With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, UIC scored
the first run of the contest with an RBI single, before Green Bay's defense
stranded two Flames' runners on base to close the inning.
With two outs in the top of the
fourth inning, Green Bay tied the game 1-1 with a solo homerun from Newtols to
center field. The homerun ties a team-high three for Newtols on the season. The
Flames answered to take the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning with an RBI
sacrifice double with two outs.
UIC increased its lead to 4-1 with
two runs on three hits and one error in the bottom of the fifth inning. With
two outs in the sixth, the Flames added five runs on four hits and three errors
to seal the 9-1 win.
Green Bay finished the game with
three hits. In addition to Newtols' homerun in the fourth, Hrncar added a
single in the third while Peerenboom added a single in the fifth with two outs
on the board.
The Phoenix wraps up its three-game
series against the Flames Thursday, April 26 at Flames Field before continuing
its eight game road stretch with a three-game series against Wright State
Saturday, April 28. Green Bay makes its final stop on the road with a
nonconference doubleheader against in-state rival Wisconsin Wednesday, May 2 at
3:00 p.m. at Goodman Diamond in Madison, Wis.
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