April 28, 2007
Box Score
CHICAGO - Loyola University Chicago (17-16, 12-3 Horizon) split a doubleheader versus Butler (22-18, 7-4 Horizon) this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park, taking game one, 3-0, before dropping the nightcap, 3-1. The Ramblers have won 13 of their last 17 contests after opening the year with a 4-12 record.
Sophomore right-hander Krista Crosson was dazzling in the opener, scattering seven hits, while striking out a pair en route to her sixth win in the last seven decisions. The Ramblers would get all of the offense they would need in the first inning, even though they only notched one hit. Ashley Mitchell led off the inning with a single to left and later scored when Nora Schober drew a bases-loaded walk to give Loyola a 1-0 lead.
The game stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth when Tara Miller scored Crosson with an RBI single and the Ramblers added an insurance run in the sixth when Schober singled home a run to put Loyola on top, 3-0.
Butler made things interesting in the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out, but Crosson got some nifty help from her defense as third baseman Lindsay O'Gean took a one hopper from Melissa Shofroth, stepped on the bag for a force out, and gunned down Shofroth at first to end the game.
Schober went 1 for 2 with a pair of RBI to lead the Ramblers' offense in game one and Miller extended her hitting streak to six games with the RBI single in the fifth.
Butler right-hander Nikki Naffziger held the Loyola offense in check in game two, yielding only three hits while striking out nine, as the Bulldogs claimed a 3-1 victory. The `Dogs jumped on the board in the top of the first, scoring a run on Jenny Jacob's infield single to take a 1-0 advantage.
After Butler added single runs in the third and fifth innings, Loyola finally busted through against Naffziger on Raven Gengler's solo home run to left field in the bottom of the sixth. Kristen Medrud led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, as the Ramblers tried to mount a final rally, but Naffziger was able to retire the next three hitters to earn her fifth win of the season.
Medrud was impressive in relief for Loyola, tossing 2.2 perfect innings, but Miller had her hitting streak halted at six games.
Loyola and Butler conclude a three-game weekend series with a single contest Sunday at noon. The Rambler seniors - Gengler, Miller and Mitchell - will be honored prior to the game.
