March 16, 2014
Box Score
Wichita, Kan. - Despite a seventh-inning home run from Alyssa Mannucci to bring the Loyola University Chicago softball team within one run of Wichita State, the Ramblers could not muster up a seventh-inning comeback to overtake the Shockers in this afternoon's series finale. After splitting yesterday's doubleheader, Loyola was defeated by Wichita State, 6-5, in today's back-and-forth battle.
Loyola jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Olivia Bell led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a Wichita State fielding error. She then scampered to third on an Erica Nagel sacrifice bunt and was able to score on a squeeze bunt by Brie Pasquale. Wichita State responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, stringing together a walk and two singles to push one run across and tie up the contest, 1-1.
The Ramblers fought back in the fourth inning, plating three runs to take a 4-1 lead. After Tarran Shaffer doubled to left center to lead off the inning, Annie Korth drew a walk and Erica Nagel singled to left center to score one run. Jessica Balzano followed it up with a single of her own to score Korth, and Nagel was able to cross home plate when Lauren Zaworski was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to give the Ramblers a three-run lead.
Wichita State began to chip away the deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning when they put together a double and a single to plate one run, making the score 4-2. They continued their offensive push in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs on four hits to take a 5-4 lead. After a lead off single, the Shockers put together a two-out rally that included a double, a walk, and two more singles to plate three runs. However, Loyola pitcher Brittany Gardner was able to strike out Wichita State's hottest hitter, Paige Luellen, to stem the tide and end the inning.
The Shockers continued to add to their total in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a lead off walk, a sacrifice bunt and a Loyola error allowed pinch runner Layne Greenlee to advance to third base, and she was able to score on a Ali Vandever ground out to make the score 6-4.
In the top of the seventh inning, Mannucci led off the frame with a home run to right center, but the rest of the Ramblers went down in order, unable to put together a seventh-inning comeback as Loyola fell to Wichita State, 6-5.
Mannucci was 2-for-4 on the day, as were Shaffer and Balzano. Nagel contributed a 2-for-2 day with one run and one RBI. Gardner took the loss in the circle for Loyola, giving up six hits on 11 runs in six innings pitched.
The Ramblers return to action on Wednesday, March 19 when they travel to Fort Wayne, Ind. to take on IPFW at 4:00 p.m.
