April 28, 2011

Box Score

DeKALB, Ill. - Host Northern Illinois (21-20) scored nine runs in the first inning and never looked back en route to a 14-2 victory over Loyola University Chicago (22-20) in game one of a doubleheader at Mary M. Bell Field this afternoon. Despite the loss, junior shortstop Lauren Arceneaux continued her torrid hitting by recording her fifth consecutive multi-hit outing.

The Huskies picked up all of the offense they would need in the bottom of the first inning, scoring nine runs on the strength of six hits to build a big cushion for starting pitcher Stephanie Tofft. Zoe Sinner smacked a three-run home run and Amanda Sheppard delivered a bases-clearing triple to highlight Northern Illinois' early outburst.

NIU extended the lead to 10-0 after two innings of play before Loyola finally got to Tofft for a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Third baseman Lauren Moore reached on an error to lead off the Ramblers' half of the inning and one batter later, came around to score on another Huskie miscue in the field. After an out, Arceneaux roped a double into center to plate Carly Benford, who had earlier reached base on an error.

However, when it seemed Loyola was beginning to chip away at the deficit and get some momentum going on its side, Northern Illinois answered with four runs of its own in the bottom half of the fourth inning to put the game out of reach.

Arceneaux went 2 for 3 as she continues to tear the cover off of the ball, batting out of the lead-off slot in the Loyola lineup. Over the last five games, she is hitting a scorching .667 (12 for 18). Meanwhile, second baseman Brooke Andresen stretched her hitting streak to six games by also going 2 for 3 in the opener.