April 20, 2010

Box Score

CHICAGO - Aided by the long ball, Loyola University Chicago's (15-16) offense recorded 10 hits en route to a 14-6 victory over Saint Louis (22-19) in five innings in game one of a doubleheader this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park. The Ramblers, who scored 12 runs in the final three innings, hit four home runs on the day, including a pair from catcher Jenna Grim, while also drawing eight walks courtesy of a pair of Billiken pitchers.

Jenna Grim's two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the first inning began an onslaught by the surging Loyola offense. After Saint Louis' Tori Holland crushed a three-run home run in the top of the second for a brief 3-2 Billiken lead, the Ramblers countered with three runs of their own, including one on a solo blast by Jacqueline Grim in the third, to seize a 5-3 lead.

In a see-saw battle early on, SLU tallied three runs in the fourth inning to claim a 6-5 lead that wouldn't last long. Loyola staked claim to the lead for good with three more runs in the fourth, as Brooke Andresen extended her hitting streak to 17 games with a two-run homer to center and Jenna Grim walloped her second roundtripper of the game.

Loyola wrapped up the game with a six-run fifth inning, with four of those runs scoring on bases loaded walks and two more coming around on Andresen's single to right.

Andresen was one of five Ramblers to record two hits in the opener as she went 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI. Jenna Grim was 2-for-3 with a pair of homers and three RBI, while her twin sister, Jacqueline, went 2-for-2 with two runs, a homer and a pair of RBI. Stephanie Cihlar registered a 2-for-4 effort with three runs scored and Bridget Lally added a pair of hits.

The Ramblers' 14-run outburst is its best offensive showing since a 14-5 win versus Detroit on April 1, 2007.