April 27, 2010

Box Score

CHICAGO - Jenna Grim went 3-for-3 and drove in four runs and Angie Funston did not allow an earned run as Loyola University Chicago (17-19) picked up a 5-2 victory over visiting Northern Illinois (20-27) in game one of a doubleheader at Loyola Softball Park this afternoon. Grim's three-run homer gives her a share of the Loyola single-season record (11) and Brooke Andresen extended her hitting streak to 22 games as the Ramblers won at home for the seventh time this spring.

Northern Illinois took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Krista Matsui scored on a Loyola throwing error after she had led off the inning with an infield single. Loyola made sure that the Huskies' lead was short-lived though as it plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the third.

Lauren Arceneaux led off the Ramblers' half of the third with a walk before Andresen poked a single through the left side of the infield to extend her hitting streak to 22 games. Stephanie Cihlar reached on a fielder's choice before Jenna Grim ripped a single through the left side to tie the game at 1-1. Funston's reached on a fielder's choice one batter later as Andresen came across the plate to give the Ramblers a 2-1 lead they would never relinquish.

Loyola added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Grim delivered the record-tying three-run home run to center field. The power hitting catcher has now hit five homers in the last six games and equaled Kat Krause's single-season school record with 11 roundtrippers.

Grim received offensive support from Andresen, who went 2-for4 with a pair of runs, while Ellen Kresl also registered a pair of hits. Funston, meanwhile, was outstanding in the circle as she scattered five hits and did not allow an earned run, while striking out two, for her ninth win of the spring.