May 8, 2011
Box Score
DETROIT - The Loyola University Chicago (26-24, 16-7) softball team claimed its fifth Horizon League regular-season title by earning a 2-0 victory over host Detroit (7-37, 2-20 Horizon) this afternoon at Buysse Ballpark. The Ramblers claim the Horizon League title for the fifth time in the last 11 seasons and for the first time since 2007 thanks to today's win coupled Valparaiso's victory over Cleveland State.
As has been the case over the last few weeks, Loyola's pitching staff was spectacular, hanging zeros on the scoreboard against the host Titans. Lefthander Brittany Gardner, who earned the win by allowing only two hits in 5.1 innings of work, matched a Loyola single-season record for victories by a freshman with her 14th win of the spring. Gardner gave way to fellow rookie Keali Engelkens who pitched the final 1.2 innings to record the save.
Back-to-back one-out singles by Lauren Moore and Jacqueline Grim in the top of the second inning gave the Ramblers a runner in scoring position. Freshman Olivia Bell, who has come up with clutch hit after clutch hit this spring, then ripped a single up the middle that plated Moore for a 1-0 Loyola lead.
However, despite having the bases loaded with two outs in that same inning, Loyola was unable to inflict any more damage on Titans starter Julia Maksym.
From there, the pitchers controlled the contest until Detroit finally mounted its first real scoring threat of the day in the sixth inning. The Titans had runners at the corners with one out, but Engelkens came on and retired Rachel Copple on a foul out, then got Whitney Stratton to ground out to third to end the inning and preserve the Ramblers' one-run lead.
Loyola tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Stevie Bradich, who had three hits on the day, singled with one out, then stole second before scoring on Brooke Andresen's single.
Detroit staged one final rally in its half of the seventh, but after Erin Huddleston reached on a one-out single, Engelkens struck out both Karyn McCarty and Shelby Long to end the contest and give Loyola home-field advantage for next week's Horizon League Championship.
With the win, Loyola matched a single-season school record, shared by the 2003 squad, with its 16th Horizon League victory. Gardner's victory also moved her into a tie with both Amy Solava and Korrie Klier for the school record for wins by a freshman with 14.
Bradich wrapped up a solid weekend by going 3 for 3, while Moore also tallied a pair of hits to lead a Loyola offense that produced nine hits off of Maksym.
Loyola will be the No. 1 seed and host the entire six-team Horizon League Championship at Loyola Softball Park, May 11-14. The bracket will be released later this evening.
