April 7, 2011
Box Score
CHICAGO - Playing in overcast and cold conditions, Loyola University Chicago's (13-14, 4-2 Horizon) bats were unable to heat up as host UIC (14-15, 5-3 Horizon) captured the rubber game of a three-game series with a 4-1 victory this afternoon at Flames Field. Senior first baseman Jacqueline Grim crushed her career-best sixth home run of the season to account for the Ramblers' offensive output.
Grim gave Loyola an early lead when she hammered a Devin Miller pitch well over the left field fence with two outs in the top of the first inning. But, that hit would be the only offense the Ramblers could muster against Miller, who wound up striking out nine and did not allow another hit until Brooke Andresen singled with one out in the sixth. The hit extended Andresen's consecutive-game hitting streak to nine.
UIC did all of its damage in the bottom of the second inning as it made the most of three hits and a pair of walks. Melinda Macias and Carly DeMarco registered back-to-back RBI singles to give the Flames a 2-1 lead, and later in the inning Ashley Hewett brought home another run on a groundout.
Loyola freshman Keali Engelkens did an admirable job in relief for the second consecutive outing, this time tossing 4.2 scoreless innings, while scattering four hits and striking out a pair of Flames. She managed to avoid damage in both the third and fifth innings when she stranded a pair of runners and left the bases loaded, respectively.
But, despite Engelkens' impressive relief stint, the Rambler offense couldn't solve Miller, who retired 13 straight hitters at one point. Loyola mounted one last-ditch surge against the righthander when Lauren Moore led off the seventh inning with a long single off the wall in right center, but she was gunned down at second base trying to stretch the hit into a double thus ending the threat.
Loyola looks to get back on track when it opens a three-game series versus Valparaiso with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 9. That day, the Ramblers will hold a Pack the Park promotion, with the first 500 fans in attendance receiving free t-shirts, and the team will also hold its annual Alumni Day. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
