Feb. 10, 2008

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - No. 2/3 Arizona State (3-0) scored six runs in the first two innings and held off a feisty Loyola University Chicago (2-3) squad, 8-6 this afternoon in the Ramblers' final game at the Sportco Spring Kick-Off Classic. All three of the Ramblers' losses this weekend came at the hands of nationally ranked teams.

The loaded Sun Devils lineup wreaked havoc early on the Ramblers as Krista Donnenwirth belted a three-run home run in the top of the first to put ASU ahead, 3-0. Arizona State added three more runs in the second, two coming on a double off the bat of Jackie Vasquez.

Loyola showed its mental toughness, battling back to score four runs in the bottom of the second off ASU starter Amanda Nesbitt. After Ellen Kresl and Jenna Grim each reached on errors, Stephanie Cihlar singled to load the bases and Kaycee Tharp delivered a run-scoring single to left to put the Ramblers on the board. Lindsay O'Gean continued her solid hitting by ripping a two-run double to center field and Kat Krause smacked an RBI single to left, scoring O'Gean, to cut the deficit to 6-4.

Arizona State tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth however, thanks to Renee Welty's two-run homer. But, the never-say-die Ramblers scratched their way back into the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kresl got things going with a lead-off single. Freshman Haley Ambrosch roped a double to right field, scoring Kresl, to make it a three-run game. Tharp stroked a two-out single to give the Ramblers runners at the corners for O'Gean, who responded with a run-scoring single to left for her third RBI of the contest to bring Loyola within 8-6, but that is as close as it would get.

Tharp went 3 for 3 to lead a Loyola offense that banged out 10 hits off of two Sun Devil pitchers, while O'Gean was 2 for 4 with three RBI and Kresl was 1 for 3 and scored a pair of runs.

Loyola is back in action March 1 when it begins play at the Wirth Invitational in Fullerton, Calif.