April 16, 2014
Box Score
CHICAGO - The Loyola University Chicago softball team fell to No. 25 Northwestern University, 8-0, in a non-conference matchup at Loyola Softball Park in Chicago, Ill., today. The Rambler offense was silenced by Wildcat ace Kristen Wood, as the Maroon & Gold were no-hit through five innings. With the loss, Loyola falls to 16-24 overall while the Wildcats improve to 24-11.
In the top of the first inning, Rambler pitcher Ashley Rogers forced a groundout to start the game, but Northwestern then put together two hits to plate one run. After Mari Majam singled to center field and advanced to second base on a Loyola throwing error, an Andrea DiPrima double brought her around to score, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead before Rogers was able to fan the last batter of the inning.
Northwestern continued its offensive momentum in the top of the second inning, leading off the frame with a home run. After back-to-back Wildcat singles preceded a Lauren Moore double play, a two-out Northwestern single plated the sole runner left in scoring position to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second inning, Katy LaCivita was the first Rambler to reach base in the contest after drawing a walk off of Wood. Sixty feet is all she would travel, however, as the rest of the line up went down in order behind her.
Rogers made quick work of the Northwestern line up in the top of the third inning, getting some assistance from Moore, who gloved two grounders as the Wildcats went down in order. Wood was just as efficient in the bottom of the frame, striking out the Rambler side for the third consecutive inning.
Two more singles and a stolen base allowed Northwestern to score a fourth run in the top of the fourth inning, and the Wildcats added four more runs to their total on three hits and two Loyola errors in the top of the fifth inning. When the Ramblers could not chip away at the deficit in the bottom of the frame, Loyola fell to Northwestern, 8-0 in a five inning run-rule.
The Ramblers are back in action this weekend when they travel to Carbondale, Ill., to take on Southern Illinois in a three-game series, April 18-19. The two teams will open the series with a 3:00 p.m. CT doubleheader on Friday and will wrap up with a single game starting at noon CT on Saturday.
