Box Score

CHICAGO - After 14 innings of play, the Loyola University Chicago softball team came away with a 7-6 victory in game one of Wednesday's double-header against Indiana State. The Ramblers racked up 12 hits in the victory, including three home runs and two doubles. With the win, Loyola improves to 13-25 on the season and 3-12 in Missouri Valley Conference play.

Indiana State struck early, as a one-out single followed by a double to the left field gap put the Sycamores on the board in the top of the first. Both teams were then held scoreless until Indiana State scored a run in the top of the third on one hit and three walks to take a 2-0 lead.

The Sycamores led off the top of the fourth inning with a single before a sacrifice bunt, followed by a groundout, advanced the runner to third. A single up the middle then knocked in a run to increase the Indiana State lead to 3-0. The Ramblers responded in the bottom of the frame, as Brooke Wyderski blasted a home run to left field to cut the Indiana State lead to 3-1.

After a scoreless fifth inning, the Sycamores drew back-to-back walks to put two runners on in the top of the sixth. After a groundout advanced the runners, a single to left field knocked in two runs to increase the Indiana State lead to 5-1. The Ramblers responded in the bottom of the frame, as Erica Nagel recorded an infield single before stealing second base and advancing to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Jamie O'Brien then doubled down the left field line to bring Nagel home, making the score 5-2. After a fly out in the next at-bat, Jessica Balzano stepped to the plate and also hit a double down the left field line to knock in a run and cut the Sycamore lead to 5-3.

Ashley Rogers and the Rambler defense forced three straight outs in the top of the seventh before Loyola tied the game at the bottom of the frame. After a single from Jacquelyn Murphy, Hannah Jenkins homered to left field to tie the game at 5-5 and send it into extra innings.

Madison Hope entered the game for Rogers in the eighth inning and held the Sycamores scoreless until the top of the 10th inning, as Indiana State knocked in a run on a pair of hits to take a 6-5 lead. However, Jessica Balzano tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a home run to left center.

At the bottom of the 14th, Wyderski got the inning started by reaching base on an error before stealing second base. Jessica Balzano then walked, and Katy LaCivita reached on a fielder's choice, with an error on the third basemen allowing both base runners to advance and load the bases with one out. After a pop-up gave the Ramblers two outs, Hannah Jenkins drew a walk to bring in the winning run and give Loyola the 7-6 victory.