Feb. 8, 2014
Box Score
Rosemont, Ill. - In their second game of the Total Control Sports Invitational, the Loyola University Chicago softball team fell to Western Illinois, 7-1, inside the Dome at Rosemont in Rosemont, Ill. Lauren Moore and Brie Pasquale led the Ramblers with one hit a piece.
Western Illinois got on the board first in the top of the first inning when Megg Kelly slammed a ball into the roof over left fielder Olivia Bell's head that was ruled a homerun. Kelly's hit brought home two Leatherneck runners, who reached on a bunt single and a hit-by-pitch.
The Ramblers answered back in the bottom of the first when Erica Nagel reached on an error to kick off the frame, and Lauren Moore launched a double over the left fielder's head. A Tarran Shaffer groundout then allowed Nagel to score, making the score 3-1.
In the top of the third, the Leathernecks strung together a pair of singles, but two more strikeouts from Gardner stemmed the tide. Western Illinois pitcher Kacyee Hart forced a Bell groundout, an Alyssa Mannucci popup, and an Erica Nagel lineout to hold the Ramblers in the bottom of the inning.
The Leathernecks tacked on another run in the top of the fourth when a Karissa Kouchis single into centerfield scored Monica Rondon, who led off the inning with a bloop single over the head of Lauren Moore and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Leatherneck pitcher Alex Ward.
Brie Pasquale led off the bottom of the frame by crushing a single into centerfield after working a 3-2 count off Ward. The sophomore then advanced to second on a passed ball, but that was as far as she would go. Three Rambler flyouts halted Loyola's offensive push.
Western Illinois added three more runs to their total in the top of the six inning, taking advantage of two Rambler throwing errors.
Moore and Pasquale each finished with one hit, and Shaffer contributed Loyola's sole RBI.
Gardner finished with eight hits, seven runs, and seven strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
The Ramblers are back in action at 7:00 p.m. when they take on former Horizon League rival UIC.
