Sunday, March 17, 2002

UMass wins Coca-Cola Classic with 2-1, extra-inning win over FIU

eri Rooney's RBI single with one out in the top of the eight inning, broke a 1-1 tie and led UMass to a 2-1 victory over FIU in the championship game of the FIU/Coca-Cola Classic, Sunday afternoon at University Park.

The Minutewomen (16-9) held a 1-0 lead until the sixth inning when the Golden Panthers took advantage of a UMass error that scored Nicole Dubovik from second base with the tying run.

FIU's Vanessa Preston (8-6) took the pitching loss in relief despite allowing only one run over five innings of work.

Earlier in the day, it took extra innings for FIU (25-18) to down Illinois-Chicago, 2-1, when Kelly Nicosia scored Megan Dontrich with a two-out suicide squeeze bunt in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Nicosia had the only two hits off UIC pitcher Alison Aguilar, who was coming off a no-hitter Saturday and a 13-2 victory over Fordam.

Amanda Nealer (7-4) was the beneficiary of the run, picking up the pitching win after going just 2/3 of an inning in relief.

FIU hosts Minnesota for a doubleheader Tuesday night at University Park beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Friday, March 15	The FIU/Coca-Cola Classic March 15-17, 2002 FIU University Park
11am -- Missouri-Kansas City (3) vs. Illinois-Chicago (2)
1pm -- UMass (4) vs. Illinois-Chicago (3)
3pm -- Missouri-Kansas City (5) vs. Fordham (2)
5pm -- FIU (2) vs. UMass (1)
7pm -- FIU (11) vs. Fordham (0)
Saturday, March 16
10am -- Missouri-Kansas City (3) vs. UMass (2)
Noon -- UMass (4) vs. Fordham (1)
2pm -- FIU (8) vs. Missouri-Kansas City (0) -- 5 innings
4pm -- Illinois-Chicago (13) vs. Fordham (2) -- 5 innings UIC's Alison Aguilar pitches no-hitter
6pm -- FIU (6) vs. Illinois-Chicago (4)
Sunday, March 17
9am -- Illinois-Chicago (5) vs. Fordham (0)
11am -- FIU (2) vs. Illinois-Chicago (1)
1pm -- vs. UMass (5) vs. Missouri-Kansas City (1)
3pm -- Championship -- UMass (2) vs. FIU (1)