Box Score

SPRINGFIELD - The Loyola University Chicago softball team opened a three-game series against Missouri State on Saturday afternoon and fell to the Bears, 6-1, in game one. Brooke Wyderski recorded her sixth home run of the season, but it wasn't enough as the Bears outhit the Ramblers 11 to two en route to the victory.

Missouri State struck in the bottom of the first, scoring one run on two hits, one error and a walk to take a 1-0 lead. The Bears then led off the bottom of the second with three consecutive singles to load the bases with no outs. Madison Hope and the Rambler defense were able to get the out at home in the next at-bat, but Ericka Velasquez Zimmer stepped to the plate and blasted a grand slam, giving the Bears a 5-0 lead.

The Ramblers went down one-two-three in the top of the third before Ashley Rogers entered the game for Hope at the bottom of the frame and held the Bears scoreless. In the top of the fourth, Brooke Wyderski put the Ramblers on the board with a solo home run to center field, cutting the Missouri State lead to 5-1. However, the Bears responded in the bottom of the fifth and scored one run on one hit, one walk and an error to take a five-run lead once again. Ashley Parenti recorded Loyola's second hit of the day in the bottom of the seventh, but the Ramblers were unable to score, giving Missouri State the 6-1 victory.