April 17, 2007

Box Score

CHICAGO - Sophomore Krista Crosson struck out eight in a complete-game victory and Loyola University Chicago (12-14) used a combination of small ball and the long ball to deal No. 10 Northwestern (33-10) a 3-2 setback at Loyola Softball Park this afternoon. Loyola, which picked up its first victory over Northwestern since 1999, has now knocked off a pair of nationally ranked teams (Illinois State and Northwestern) this season and has claimed eight of its last ten games at home dating back to last season.

The Ramblers scored all of their runs in the first two innings, then held off a pair of Wildcat rallies to earn the win. Ashley Mitchell, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the first inning, would later score on Lauren Delaney's wild pitch and Raven Gengler perfectly executed a suicide squeeze to score Lindsay O'Gean to give Loyola a 2-0 lead. Nora Schober added to the lead when she led off the bottom of the second with a long shot over the fence in left field to give the Ramblers a 3-0 edge.

A run-scoring single by Darcy Sengewald and a RBI double by Tammy Williams helped get Northwestern on the board and cut the Loyola lead to 3-2 in the third inning. The Wildcats threatened even more in the third, loading the bases with one out, but Crosson wiggled out of the jam by getting Nicole Pauly to hit into a fielder's choice and striking out Erin Dyer.

Northwestern mounted one final threat in the seventh inning. With one out, Katie Logan reached on a bunt single before Williams laced a single to right field. Logan attempted to advance to third base on Williams' single, but was gunned down easily by rightfielder Tara Miller and Crosson followed by striking out Garland Cooper to end the game.

Schboer, O'Gean and Ellen Kresl accounted for Loyola's hits on the afternoon and Crosson improved to 5-3 by scattering seven hits in a sparkling effort.

Loyola gets back into Horizon League play when it travels to UW-Green Bay tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.