April 14, 2006

Box Score

CHICAGO - Detroit (8-20, 4-3 Horizon) scored six runs early in the game to earn an 8-5 victory over Loyola University Chicago (10-31, 4-5 Horizon) this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park in the opener of a three-game weekend series.

On a warm and humid day, both teams lit up the scoreboard in the early going, combining for 11 runs through three innings. The Titans jumped on the board in the first inning thanks to second baseman Michelle Baggio's two-run homer to left field. But that lead would be short-lived as Loyola countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to even the score. Tara Miller singled to lead off the inning, and later scored on an error before Raven Gengler hit her first home run of the year, a solo shot to left, to draw the Ramblers even at 2-2.

Detroit threw two more runs on the board in the second inning before the Ramblers claimed the lead with a three-spot in the bottom of the frame. Trish Oberhaus and Katie Duffy stroked back-to-back doubles and Lindsay O'Gean later laced a two-run single to give Loyola a 5-4 lead.

The Titans were able to reclaim the lead for good with two more runs in the third inning on an RBI single from Morgan Papke and an RBI groundout by Sarah Dickey. Detroit would add a pair of insurance runs in the seventh to solidify the victory.

Miller and Oberhaus had a pair of hits each for Loyola, while Miller added a pair of stolen bases and scored twice. Miller, who has 23 steals this season, is eight shy of the Loyola single-season mark of 31 owned by Ellen Antonacci.

Loyola closes out the weekend series with Detroit as the teams play a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at noon.