April 10, 2011
Box Score
CHICAGO - A balanced Loyola University Chicago (15-15, 6-3 Horizon) offense tallied 11 hits off of a pair of Valparaiso (22-15-1, 5-4 Horizon) pitchers to help the Ramblers to an 8-0 victory in five innings in the rubber game of a three-game series this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park. The Ramblers have registered 25 hits, 22 of them singles, in the last two contests and took two of three games from the Crusaders this weekend.
On an unseasonably warm and sunny afternoon, with temperatures in the 80s, the Loyola offense wasted no time heating up as it plated two runs in the first inning and never looked back to move back to the .500 mark this season.
Brooke Andresen led off the bottom half of the first inning with a bunt single and after Bridget Lally was hit by a pitch, Andresen scampered around to score on a Valpo throwing error on Keali Engelkens' sacrifice bunt attempt. The Ramblers added another run in the inning when Lally stole home on a double steal attempt to give the hosts a 2-0 lead after an inning of action.
Loyola put the game out of reach with three runs in the second inning, the big hit coming in the form of a two-run single off the bat of shortstop Lauren Arceneaux.
With a five-run cushion, Loyola freshman Brittany Gardner was able to relax and wound up holding Valparaiso hitless until KC Boldt led off the fourth inning with a base hit right back up the middle.
Valpo threatened in the fifth when Jill Jacobson led off with a single and Amanda Wisniewski drew a walk to give the Crusaders runners at first and second with no outs. However, Engelkens, who has been sensational in relief this week, spelled Gardner in the circle and slammed the door on the Valpo rally to preserve the Ramblers' 5-0 lead.
Engelkens continued her torrid hitting today, registering a pair of hits and in seven at-bats this season, she has recorded a staggering six hits (.857). Her triple with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth drove in three runs and provided the margin needed to invoke the run rule.
Tori Spears, who was making her first start since March 26, went 3 for 3 to lead the Loyola offense, which saw three other players tally two hits apiece. Hitting out of the leadoff slot, Andresen went 2 for 4 and scored three runs and Engelkens and Arceneaux tallied two hits each. Lally had a single, was hit by a pitch twice and scored three times.
Gardner yielded only two hits in 4.0 innings to earn her 10th win of the spring.
Loyola is back in action on Wednesday, April 13, when it plays a single game at Notre Dame.
