March 11, 2011

Box Score

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Pinch runner Olivia Bell scored the game-winning run on a throwing error by Temple catcher Sam Schoell with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning as Loyola University Chicago (8-5) earned a thrilling 3-2 victory over Temple (6-10) tonight at the Rebel Spring Games. Loyola concludes its spring break trip with a 6-2 record.

Loyola got on the board first when it pushed across two runs in the second inning, scoring each run in completely different fashion. Jenna Grim led off the inning with a single and pinch runner Stevie Bradich used her speed to steal second base, then scampered over to third on a wild pitch, before scoring on Jacqueline Grim's sacrifice fly to medium depth in right field. One hitter later, after speed had played a big role in Loyola's manufacturing of its first run, the Ramblers used their brawn as catcher Hannah Berris parked a Kristen Marris offering over the fence in left field for her first career home run to give the Ramblers a 2-0 edge.

Temple answered back in the top of the fourth when Alysse Pujol and Marris opened the inning with consecutive singles. Brittany Gardner was summoned in relief and after retiring her first batter, issued a walk to Sam Schoell to load the bases. Unfazed, the lefthanded freshman struck out Sarah Prezioso for the second out before issuing a free pass to Devynne Nelons as the Owls cut the Ramblers' lead in half. After falling behind 3-0 to Rachel Knable however, Gardner kept her poise and fanned the second baseman to end the threat and keep the damage to a minimum.

The Ramblers tried to steal momentum right back in their half of the fifth when Carly Benford led off with an infield single and moved into scoring position with no one out by swiping second base. Marris however, set down the next two Rambler batters before Bridget Lally worked a walk, but Loyola was unable to push across a run.

Temple ended Gardner's string of consecutive scoreless innings at 31.0 when Christina Sykora hammered a solo home run to center field with one out in the sixth inning to tie the game at 2-2.

Loyola mounted a threat in the bottom of the inning when Jacqueline Grim and Berris recorded back-to-back, two-out singles, but Marris escaped unscathed.

Pinch hitter Tori Spears led off the Ramblers' half of the seventh with a single up the middle and Bell, who was running for Spears, moved to second on a wild pitch, then to third on Brooke Andresen's sacrifice bunt. Lally reached on a fielder's choice and Bell scored when Schoell's throw following an attempted suicide squeeze hit Bell in the back, allowing her to score easily.

Berris went 2 for 3 to lead Loyola's offense, while Gardner struck out four and allowed only one hit in 3.0 innings of relief to improve to 5-2 this spring.

Loyola is back in action next weekend when it competes at the Hoosier Classic in Bloomington, Ind., March 18-20.