April 17, 2011

Box Score

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Brittany Gardner and Tess Sito both dominated in the pitching circle but Amy Powell's solo home run accounted for the only run in the game as Cleveland State (20-16, 5-5 Horizon) earned a 1-0 victory over Loyola University Chicago (16-17, 6-4 Horizon) in game one of a doubleheader this afternoon at Viking Field. Gardner was dazzling for the Ramblers, striking out a season-high 11 batters, while allowing only two hits, in the complete-game effort.

Neither team could generate any kind of offense as Gardner and Sito combined to strike out 26 batters in the contest.

Loyola, however, let a golden opportunity slip through its hands in the top of the fifth inning. Lauren Moore led off the frame with a double, then moved to third on Jenna Grim's infield hit, giving the Ramblers runners at the corners with no outs. Sito buckled down and retired the next three Loyola batters via strikeout, foul out and then a line drive right back to the righthander, to escape unscathed.

Powell smashed a two-out home run in the Vikings' half of the fifth inning to break up Gardner's no-hit bid and to provide all of the offense Cleveland State would need.

Loyola and Cleveland State wrap up the doubleheader with game two this afternoon.