March 28, 2012

Final Stats

CHICAGO - Brittany Gardner won her third straight start and Loyola University Chicago (8-12) earned a doubleheader sweep of Northern Illinois (12-16) with a 9-1 victory in only six innings in game two this evening. Despite temperatures dropping about 15 degrees as dusk settled in, the Rambler bats remained hot as Loyola rolled to its fourth straight victory, a season high.

The first two innings were dominated by the pitchers with neither squad recording a hit, but that all changed in a hurry in the third inning as the Huskies finally snapped Gardner's scoreless innings streak at 16. Northern Illinois registered three hits including a RBI single from Shelby Miller in the top of the third, to take a one-run lead.

Northern Illinois' ability to manufacture a run seemed to awaken the Loyola bats however and the Ramblers wasted no time in answering back with a rally of their own off of NIU righthander Megan Dortch Olivia Bell's single to center opened up a five-run, five-hit third for Loyola, which got RBI hits from Lauren Moore, Brooke Andresen, Tarran Shaffer, and Lauren Zaworski in the inning.

Loyola was incredibly patient against Dortch, coaxing 12 walks from the righthander, and the Ramblers were able to score at least one run in each of the final four innings. By virtue of a disciplined approach at the plate, Loyola was able to score four runs despite only managing one hit, thanks to 10 walks in those final three innings alone.

Six Ramblers tallied a hit off Dortch and shortstop and lead-off hitter Lauren Arceneaux drew three walks and scored three runs.

Gardner scattered four hits in 4.0 innings of work but struck out eight Huskies, and sophomore Keali Engelkens fanned three and allowed only one hit in the final two innings of relief in her first appearance since March 7.

Loyola is back in action this weekend when it plays a three-game series at Horizon League rival Butler. The teams open play with a doubleheader on March 31 at 1 p.m. Eastern.