March 8, 2014

Box Score

Los Angeles, Calif. - A six-run fourth inning was the difference maker in the Loyola University Chicago softball team's 10-6 victory over UNLV this afternoon in Los Angeles, Calif. In their first game of the second day of the UCLA/CSUN Invitational, the Ramblers trounced the Rebels behind a monster fourth inning and a two-run blast from Lauren Moore, improving to 8-12 on the year with the victory.

The Ramblers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead off UNLV pitcher Alex Petrolia in the top of the first inning. After Brie Pasquale drew a lead off walk, she advanced to second on a Jessica Balzano sacrifice bunt. Lauren Moore then roped a single into left field, advancing to second on a UNLV error and scoring Pasquale. After Moore moved to third on a Tarran Shaffer groundout, the senior scampered home when Alyssa Mannucci hit her own single into left field, giving Loyola a 2-0 lead.

UNLV came right back take the lead in the bottom of the first inning. After Garie Blando reached on a Loyola fielding error to lead off the inning, the Rebels strung together a double and a single to score one run. Pauline Monreal then reached on a fielder's choice to third base, scoring one more to tie the game, 2-2. The Rebels followed it up with a successful double steal, with Monreal stealing second and Stefany Valentino stealing home to take the lead, 3-2, and then another UNLV single scored the fourth run of the inning to put the Ramblers down 4-2.

The Rebels added to their total in the bottom of the second inning when Blando led off the frame with a single through the right side and promptly stole second. Emilie Valadez then hit a bunt single, but was thrown out trying to advance to second. On the throw, Blando crossed the plate, giving the Rebels a 5-2 lead.

Loyoal would not back down, however, and stormed back to regain the lead in the top of the fourth. Mannucci led off the frame with a walk and moved to second on an Annie Korth single through the left side. Olivia Bell then tapped a bunt single in front of third base, loading the bases for the Ramblers. With two outs, Balzano drew a walk to bring Mannucci across the plate, and Moore reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Korth to score. Tarran Shaffer was then hit by a pitch to score Bell, tying the game at 5-5. Lauren Zaworski followed it up with a single into right center to score Balzano and Moore, and then Mannucci hit a single of her own to score Shaffer, giving the Ramblers an 8-5 lead.

UNLV got one run back in the bottom of the fourth by stringing together three singles. After Monreal singled to right field, Samantha Juarez scored from third, but Erica Nagel threw Blando out at home to end the inning and quell the Rebels' offensive spark.

Moore kept the Loyola momentum going in the top of the sixth inning after Balzano led off the frame with a single to shortstop. The senior blasted a two-run homer-- her second of the year-- over the left field fence, giving the Ramblers a definitive 10-6 lead over UNLV that they would hold throughout the rest of the game to earn the win.

Moore and Mannucci led the Ramblers at the plate against UNLV, with Mannucci going 2-for-2 with two RBI and Moore finishing 2-for-4 with three RBI. With a walk in the first inning, Pasquale extended her streak of reaching base to eleven straight games. Zaworski also added to her own streak, finishing with one hit and two RBI to extend her hitting streak to seven games.

Rogers earned the victory in the circle for Loyola, giving up six runs on 13 hits in 7.0 innings pitched.

The Ramblers are back in action today at 4:30 p.m. CT when they rematch No. 3 UCLA on the second day of the UCLA/CSUN Invitational in Los Angeles, Calif.