April 10, 2010

Box Score

CHICAGO - Using a combination of speed and power, Loyola University Chicago (12-13, 4-3 Horizon) completed a doubleheader sweep of visiting Youngstown State (8-22, 1-4 Horizon) by rolling to a 10-2 victory in game two this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park. Winners of six of their last seven games, the Ramblers pounded out 10 hits, three of which went for extra bases, and swiped five bases in the nightcap.

Riding the momentum of a thrilling one-run victory in game one of today's twinbill, Loyola wasted no time in taking the lead as it plated three first-inning runs against starter Hana Somogyi. Lauren Arceneaux started the big inning with a bases loaded sacrifice fly that scored Stephanie Cihlar and one batter later, Kristen Medrud delivered a two-run single that never left the infield as the Ramblers took advantage of their team speed.

Youngstown State countered with a pair of runs of its own in the top of the second to get within a run thanks to a run-scoring double from Kristen Philen and a RBI single by Sarah Gabel.

The game would stay at 3-2 until the Ramblers pushed across four runs in the fourth inning, with the highlight coming on Bridget Lally's first home run of the season, a two-run blast over the fence in center field. Cihlar would later drive in a run with a triple down the right field line and score on Jenna Grim's RBI groundout to give Loyola a comfortable 7-2 lead.

Loyola sealed the outcome with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Arceneaux, who led off the inning with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a throwing error and scored on a passed ball before pinch hitter Carly Benford made the most of her only at-bat of the day by stroking a run-scoring double to left center. Cihlar's single up the middle later in the inning scored Benford to give Loyola the eight-run lead it needed to invoke the eight-run rule.

Lefthander Hilary Payne was economical and masterful in relief, retiring all nine batters she faced, while striking out two, to earn her second win of the season. Brooke Andresen extended her hitting streak to 11 games with a fifth-inning single and Cihlar recorded her third three-hit outing in the last six contests, while also driving in a pair of runs, to lead the Loyola offense. Ellen Kresl also tallied a pair of hits.

Loyola and Youngstown State conclude their three-game weekend series by playing a single contest tomorrow at noon.