March 27, 2010

Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - Jenny Esparza stuck out seven and scattered four hits to lead Butler (22-4, 1-0 Horizon) to a 3-0 victory over Loyola University Chicago (6-11, 0-1) in game one of a doubleheader this afternoon. The loss is the Ramblers' third in a row and comes on the heels of a four-game winning streak.

Butler drew first blood when it took advantage of a one-out walk by Annie Dolan in the bottom of the first inning as she came around to score on Bridget Paine's double.

The game would remain that way until the Bulldogs plated a pair of insurance runs courtesy of a RBI double by Erin Falkenberry and a run-scoring single off the bat of Meaghan Sullivan in bottom of the sixth to stretch the lead to 3-0.

Loyola was not without its chances against Esparza, but was unable to capitalize on a pair of golden opportunities in the third and seventh innings. The Ramblers had runners at second and third with one out in the third inning, but Esparza escaped unscathed by striking out the next two hitters, and in the seventh, Loyola again let a scoring chance slip through its hands when it stranded runners at second and third.

Angie Funston took the loss, her first of the season, despite striking out five and scattering four hits in 5.2 innings of work for Loyola. Brooke Andresen, Kristen Medrud, Jenna Grim and Stephanie Cihlar each tallied a hit to pace the Ramblers' offensive attack.