April 26, 2008

Box Score

CHICAGO - Loyola University Chicago (15-21-1, 9-6 Horizon) committed a total of nine errors and allowed six unearned runs as Cleveland State (27-13, 12-3 Horizon) swept a doubleheader this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park. The Vikings claimed game one, 5-3, before holding on for a 4-2 victory in the nightcap of a pivotal doubleheader.

First-place Cleveland State staked claim to an early lead in game one, scoring a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first inning for a 2-0 lead. Whitney Willard's RBI single up the middle in the second inning scored pinch runner Amanda Kern to give the visiting Vikings a 3-0 edge, which later grew to 4-0 in the fourth inning on Danielle Young's run-scoring single.

Loyola began to chip away at the deficit in the bottom of the fourth. Stephanie Cihlar led off with a single and moved to second on throwing error by CSU pitcher Amanda Macenko. Nora Schober followed with a single to right to score Cihlar and Schober herself would later score on Jenna Grim's successful suicide squeeze to cut the Vikings' lead to 4-2.

CSU added another unearned run in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead before the Ramblers mounted one final rally in their last at-bat in the seventh. Kat Krause ripped a one-out single up the middle to score Bridget Lally and cut the deficit to 5-3, while bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. However, Macenko wiggled out of trouble by getting a game-ending double play groundout as the Ramblers' rally came up just short.

Schober went 2 for 3 with a run and a RBI in game one, while Ellen Kresl also recorded a pair of hits for Loyola.

Loyola's defense failed it again in game two as the Ramblers committed four more errors en route to a tough 4-2 defeat that wasn't without suspense in the final inning. Cleveland State again took an early lead, scoring three runs in the second inning for a 3-0 advantage. Willard's sacrifice fly in the fourth inning plated pinch runner Andrea Nagy to give the Vikings a seemingly comfortable 4-0 lead.

The Ramblers' bats awakened late for the second straight game, finally breaking through against Macenko, who was starting for the second game today, in the sixth inning. Lindsay O'Gean's single to center field with one out brought home Haley Ambrosch, who had led off with a single.

Things got interesting in the seventh inning as Loyola capitalized on a couple of Viking mental errors. Kaycee Tharp scored on a botched pick-off attempt at first base to cut the Loyola deficit to 4-2. With one out, the Ramblers had runners at second at third, but Macenko again was able to escape a jam and end the game courtesy of a double play.

Loyola right-hander Krista Crosson allowed only one earned run and struck out three but was the hard-luck losing pitcher. Macenko struck out seven for CSU in game two to finish the day with 18 strikeouts. The Ramblers and Vikings conclude the three-game weekend series tomorrow with a single game beginning at noon Central.