March 30, 2010

Box Score

CHICAGO - Junior lefthander Hilary Payne tossed a four-hit shutout to lead Loyola University Chicago (7-12) to an 8-0 victory over No. 24 Notre Dame (24-6) this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park. The win snaps a four-game losing skid for the Ramblers and is their first at home this season.

Things started out ominously for Loyola and Payne as Notre Dame lead-off hitter Sadie Pitzenberger doubled to right center to open the game. After Pitzenberger advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, Payne settled in and retired the next two hitters via groundouts to escape any damage.

The game was a pitcher's duel until Loyola hung three runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Bridget Lally, who had reached on a one-out double to the gap in left center, scored on Brooke Andresen's single to give the Ramblers a 1-0 lead, and run-scoring singles would later follow courtesy of Angie Funston and Jenna Grim before the inning was over.

Loyola tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the fifth inning, when after a leadoff single by Andresen, Funston crushed a Jody Valdivia offering down the left field line that hugged the foul pole for a two-run home run and a 5-0 Loyola lead.

The Rambler offense continued to roll in the sixth inning against reliever Brittany O'Donnell, as it added three runs and closed out the contest via run-rule thanks to a two-run single by pinch hitter Amy Solava.

The win is Loyola's first over a ranked team since 3-0 decision over then No. 14 DePaul on May 2, 2007. Under sixth-year head coach Yvette Healy, the Ramblers have recorded four wins over ranked opponents.

Andresen and Funston teach went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored to lead the Loyola offensive attack and Funston also finished with three RBI.

Loyola is back in action tomorrow afternoon when it hosts Bradley at 4 p.m.