April 14, 2011
Box Score
CHICAGO - Olivia Bell scored on a throwing error with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to send Loyola University Chicago (16-16) to a 4-3 victory over visiting Purdue (25-12-1) at Loyola Softball Park this evening. The win is the Ramblers' second over a Big Ten Conference opponent this season.
The game was a pitcher's duel between Loyola lefthander Brittany Gardner and Purdue righthander Katie Hackney throughout most of the contest. Purdue was able to jump on the board first, scoring an unearned run in the top of the third inning when Molly Garst scampered home on a Loyola error and he game would stay that way until the bottom of the fifth inning when Lauren Zaworski drew the Ramblers even with a solo home run to left field.
Gardner was sparkling in the circle for the Ramblers and allowed only one hit, a first-inning triple by Andie Varsho, through the first five innings.
In the eighth inning, Gardner escaped trouble by standing a pair of Boilermakers on base and Loyola mounted a huge threat in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases with one out before Suzie Rzegocki came on in relief to slam the door on the Rambler rally.
Purdue seemingly wrapped up the game in the 10th inning when Lindsey Rains and Kim McMillan crushed back-to-back home runs for a 3-1 Boilermaker lead. But, Loyola showed its mettle and refused to go quietly, as Brooke Andresen led off the bottom of the 10th with a single, then scored on Lauren Arceneaux's mammoth home run that landed on top on the apartment building roof beyond the left field fence, to tie the game at 3-3.
Loyola reliever Keali Engelkens escaped a jam in the top of the 11th inning, striking out McMillan after Purdue had registered consecutive two-out singles to set up the extra-inning heroics.
With the temperature dropping by the minute and nightfall approaching, Bell led off the Loyola half of the 11th with an opposite field double, then moved to third thanks to Hannah Berris' perfectly executed sacrifice bunt. Stevie Bradich followed with a bunt that was fielded by Rzegocki and although Bradich beat the throw, an errant toss from the pitcher got away from the Purdue first baseman, allowing Bell to score with the winning run.
The win is Loyola's first over Purdue since April 19, 2001, when the Ramblers also recorded a 4-3 victory in their final at-bat.
Bell went 3 for 5 to lead the Loyola offense, which knocked out 12 hits against a pair of Boilermaker pitchers. Arceneaux and Jacqueline Grim tallied two hits apiece and Andresen reached base safely for the 15th straight game thanks to her sixth-inning walk and 10th-inning single.
Engelkens earned the win in relief, striking out two in 1.2 innings, while Gardner was impressive before tiring late. The lefthander hurled 9.1 innings and struck out seven Boilermakers to keep their high-powered offense in check.
Loyola hits the road for a three-game series at Cleveland State, April 16-17. The Ramblers and Vikings open up the weekend by playing a doubleheader on Saturday.
