April 12, 2014
Box Score
CHICAGO - In its first-ever game at Loyola Softball Park this season, the Loyola University Chicago softball team fell to Illinois State, 3-0, in the first game of today's doubleheader in Chicago, Ill. The Ramblers were held to just three hits in the defeat and fall to 14-21 overall and 5-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference with the loss.
Early on, Rambler pitcher Brittany Gardner was able to keep the Redbirds at bay. In the first inning, the lefthander allowed only a double and put the rest of the Illinois State lineup down in order. The senior ace continued to shut down the Redbirds in the top of the second inning, giving up a leadoff walk but setting the next three batters down with two pop-ups and a strikeout.
Illinois State was able to get on the board in the top of the fourth inning, however, stringing together three hits for three runs. After Regan Romshek led off the frame with a triple, the Redbirds followed it up with a Jordan de los Reyes double and a Sara Bradley home run to take a 3-0 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Lauren Moore roped a single into left center field for Loyola's first hit of the game. One base was all she would touch, however, as a strikeout behind her ended the inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, Illinois State threatened to attack after back-to-back hits put Redbirds on second and third base with one out, but Gardner stemmed the tide. The senior ace struck out the final two batters of the inning to increase her total to six punch outs on the day.
The Ramblers poised to strike in the bottom of the frame, putting two runners on after Olivia Bell led off the frame with a single to second base and Katy LaCivita hit a one-out single to left field. The ball did not have eyes for the Ramblers, however. After Annie Korth lined out to left field, pinch hitter Lauren Zaworski was robbed of a base hit up the middle on a diving catch by the Redbird second baseman.
Neither team was able to score in the sixth inning, and Gardner held Illinois State to a double in the top of the seventh inning. When the Ramblers went down in order in the bottom of the seventh inning, Illinois State took the victory, 3-0 in the series opener.
The Ramblers are back in action in 30 minutes when they take on the Redbirds in the second game of today's doubleheader at Loyola Softball Park in Chicago, Ill.
