April 24, 2010

Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Brooke Andresen went 3-for-3 and extended her hitting streak to 21 games, but it wasn't enough as Valparaiso (29-13, 9-3 Horizon) used a seven-run fourth inning to break open the game en route to a 9-1 victory in five innings over Loyola University Chicago (16-19, 6-8 Horizon) in game two of a doubleheader this afternoon. The Ramblers have dropped five of their last seven Horizon League contests.

After a scoreless first two innings, Loyola staked claim to an early 1-0 lead in the third inning. Andresen, who had led off the game with a single to extend her hitting streak to 21, ripped a one-out single to start the fun. After scooting over to second base thanks to a wild pitch, Andresen came around to score one out later on Jenna Grim's single to center.

The Ramblers would cling to that lead until the bottom of the fourth when the Crusaders busted down the gates and hung seven runs on the board. Sadie Conner's two-run home run with one out got the barrage started and later in the inning, Sara Strickland would triple home a pair of runs. Valpo scored its seven runs in the inning on seven hits.

Valparaiso wrapped up the contest by plating two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a RBI single off the bat of Whitney Warner and a run-scoring double courtesy of Jennifer Hermanson.

Andresen accounted for three of the Ramblers' hits off winning pitcher Sam McGee, while Grim's RBI single was the team's lone other base knock.

Valpo banged out 12 hits with Strickland and Conner accounting for two hits each.

The teams are scheduled to wrap up the three-game weekend series with a single contest at Valparaiso tomorrow at noon.