April 23, 2014
Box Score
CHICAGO - The Loyola University Chicago softball team's bats were on fire in game one of today's doubleheader, propelling the Ramblers past Northern Illinois, 4-3. Home runs from Lauren Moore and Jacquelyn Murphy drove in three of Loyola's four runs and made the difference in the Ramblers' victory over the Huskies at Loyola Softball Park in Chicago, Ill. With the win, Loyola improves to 18-27 overall.
Loyola got off to a hot start in the bottom of the first inning largely in part due to the bats of Jessica Balzano and Moore. With one out, Balzano laid down on a bunt single in front of the Husky pitcher, and Moore followed it up with a two-run blast into left center field to put the Ramblers up 2-0. The home run was Moore's seventh of the season and the 27th of her career. With the hit, the senior needs just five more roundtrippers to tie Loyola's all-time mark (32) in that category.
The Ramblers' offensive momentum seemed to be contagious, as the Huskies immediately put three runs on the board in the top of the second inning. After two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Northern Illinois, back-to-back singles plated three runs to give the Huskies a 3-2 lead.
The Northern Illinois lead was short lived, however, as the Ramblers tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. Annie Korth led off the frame with a single to center field, advancing to second base on a Katy LaCivita sacrifice bunt. Lauren Zaworski then doubled to left center field, bringing Korth across the plate and making the score 3-3.
After Rambler pitcher Ashley Rogers shut down the Husky lineup in the third through fifth innings, Loyola again added to its total with a home run, this time by Murphy. With one out, the freshman crushed her first career solo shot into dead center field, giving the Ramblers a 4-3 lead.
Loyola ace Brittany Gardner was then brought on to pitch in relief of Rogers and shut down the Northern Illinois line up. The senior gave up just one single before retiring the rest of the Husky side to preserve the Rambler lead.
Northern Illinois followed suit and made its own pitching change, bringing Allyson Hecht on to pitch. Hecht set the Ramblers down in order, though not before Olivia Bell hit a laser beam line out to the Husky third baseman. Gardner then shut down the Husky line up in the top of the seventh inning, earning the save and protecting Loyola's 4-3 lead for the win.
The Ramblers are back in action in 30 minutes when they take on Northern Illinois in the second game of today's doubleheader at Loyola Softball Park.
