May 1, 2011
Box Score
CHICAGO - A pair of Loyola University Chicago (23-23, 13-7 Horizon) pitchers surrendered only two hits, but pinch hitter Alyssa Coleman's pinch-hit, two-run home run in the sixth was the difference in Butler's (28-22, 14-8 Horizon) 2-1 victory at Loyola Softball Park this afternoon. The loss is just the Ramblers' third at home and spoiled 5.0 innings of hitless work by freshman Brittany Gardner.
Prior to the game, Loyola recognized the contributions of its four seniors - Carly Benford, Jacqueline Grim, Jenna Grim and Bridget Lally - and it seemed as if it would be a memorable day for that bunch. With starters pitchers Gardner and Jennifer Chasteen locked in and dealing, Loyola finally drew first blood in the bottom of the third inning.
Benford led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before Lauren Arceneaux hit a triple down the right field line to bring home Benford and give Loyola an early 1-0 lead.
It appeared that would be all of the offense Loyola would need as Gardner was dazzling in the circle for the third time in as many games this weekend. The freshman lefthander set down the first 15 Bulldogs she faced before she hit pinch hitter Callie Dennison with a pitch to lead off the sixth inning.
Butler moved Dennison to second thanks to a sacrifice bunt and Coleman followed with a pinch-hit home run off of reliever Keali Engelkens for a 2-1 Bulldogs advantage.
Loyola had scoring chances in both the sixth and seventh innings but was unable to push a run across the plate. Arceneaux led off the Rambler half of the sixth inning by getting hit by a pitch and Brooke Andresen reached on a Butler error before both runners stole a base to put two Ramblers in scoring position with no one out.
However, reliever Jenny Esparza escaped the jam by getting a groundout and a pair of strikeouts and Loyola was also unable to capitalize on a lead-off walk to start the seventh inning as it dropped two of three games in the series despite allowing only four hits to Butler over the weekend.
Benford went 2 for 2 to lead Loyola's offense, while Gardner did not allow a hit and matched a season high with 11 strikeouts.
Loyola plays its final regular-season home game when it hosts IUPUI in a doubleheader on Tuesday, May 3 at 3 p.m.
