March 31, 2010
Box Score
CHICAGO - Stephanie Cihlar, Lauren Arceneaux and Brooke Andresen combined for eight hits and Angie Funston allowed only one hit in 4.1 innings of work to help lead Loyola University Chicago (8-12) to a 4-2 victory over Bradley (11-15) this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park. The Ramblers picked up their second straight victory by staving off a late Braves rally as Funston slammed the door with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh.
Loyola, which pounded out 10 hits off three Bradley pitchers, broke out the bats early, striking for single runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. Arceneaux got things started in the second inning by reaching on an infield single with one out. After Arceneaux swiped second base, Ellen Kresl brought her home on a RBI single to right center and the Ramblers would never look back.
In the third inning, Loyola used its speed to manufacture a run as Andresen led off with a bunt single, stole second, advanced to third on Cihlar's bunt single and later scored on an error. Bridget Lally's bunt single in the bottom of the fourth inning plated Arceneaux to give the Ramblers a 3-0 lead and the hosts tacked on one more run in the fifth inning courtesy of Cihlar's run-scoring double.
Bradley mounted a late rally, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, and after the Braves loaded the bases, Funston was brought back into the circle to try to put out the fire. The senior righthander was able to do just that as she got Taylor Cox, one of Bradley's top hitters, to hit a comeback grounder to seal the outcome.
Cihlar went 3-for-3 with a pair of steals and a RBI, while Arceneaux went 3-for-3 with a double and a pair of runs scored to pace the Loyola attack, which also got a strong effort out of Andresen (2-for-3, 2 runs, double, stolen base).
Funston was impressive in the circle, throwing 4.1 innings of one-hit ball, while striking out two, en route to her third win of the year.
Loyola gets back to Horizon League play this weekend when it plays a three-game series at Wright State, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, April 2.
