May 7, 2006

Box Score

CHICAGO - Tara Miller went 3 for 3 with a home run, but it wasn't enough for Loyola University Chicago (18-39, 10-10 Horizon) as it dropped a 4-2 decision to Youngstown State (18-25, 10-10 Horizon) today at Loyola Softball Park in the regular-season finale for both clubs. Loyola was seeking its first three-game sweep of a Horizon League series since the 2004 campaign.

Youngstown State took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Lacey Hess' RBI single, but Loyola answered with a run of its own in the third on Lindsay O'Gean's RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.

The Penguins reclaimed the lead in the fourth, thanks to Lacy Bronson's bloop triple to right field that scored pinch runner Megan Bricker. Miller brought the Ramblers even again in the bottom of the fifth with a mammoth shot over the fence in centerfield for her seventh home run of the year.

YSU stole the momentum right back in the top of the sixth when Jamie Fornal led off with a single and scored on Allyse Ledford's two-run homer to left, putting the Penguins on top, 4-2.

Loyola was retired in order in the sixth and seventh innings as Karlie Burnell picked up the win for Youngstown.

The Ramblers look for their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid when they begin play at the Horizon League Championship in Canfield, Ohio on May 11.