April 1, 2012

Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - Olivia Bell recorded three hits but Butler (9-21, 3-3 Horizon) made an early lead hold up as Loyola University Chicago (9-14, 3-3 Horizon) dropped a 4-0 contest to the Bulldogs this afternoon in the series finale of a three-game, weekend set. Loyola tried to rally late, recording five hits in the final three innings, but Butler reliever Breanna Fisher kept the Ramblers at bay.

The host Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead, scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the first on Mallory Winters' bases-loaded walk. In the fourth inning, Butler added an insurance run when Kayla Gray's one-out double scored Krista Hakola, and the Bulldogs tacked on two more runs in the fifth to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Loyola tried to mount a rally when the Bulldogs went to the bullpen and replaced starter Jenny Esparza, who had struck out five and allowed just two hits through four innings, with Fisher to start the fifth. Back-to-back two-out singles by Keali Engelkens and Bell gave the Ramblers a runner in scoring position, but Fisher escaped the jam.

In the top of the seventh, Engelkens reached on a fielder's choice and Bell followed with an infield hit, but once again, Fisher wiggled her way out of trouble and worked out of trouble without surrendering a run.

In addition to Bell's three hits, Brooke Andresen also tallied a pair of hits for Loyola, which managed seven hits, all singles, on the day. The bottom-third of the Rambler lineup accounted for five of the team's seven hits. Engelkens tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief and struck out two.

Jessica Huey went 2 for 2 with a double and a pair of RBI to lead Butler.

Loyola begins a busy week in which it will play six games in five days when it hosts city rival DePaul on April 3 at 4 p.m.