Final Stats

NORMAL - After dropping both games of Saturday's doubleheader at Illinois State, the Loyola University Chicago softball team bounced back to claim Sunday's series finale, defeating the Redbirds 7-5. The Ramblers racked up 11 hits in the victory, including home runs from Brooke Wyderski and Katy LaCivita.

Loyola struck early, as Erica Nagel and Jessica Balzano led off the top of the first inning with back-to-back singles before advancing bases on a sacrifice bunt by Brooke Wyderski. Jamie O'Brien then doubled to right center to knock in two runs before an RBI double from Annie Korth put the Ramblers on top, 3-0. The Redbirds responded in the bottom of the frame, as two singles and a walk loaded the bases before a wild pitch allowed a run to score.

Both teams were held scoreless until the bottom of the third. Illinois State loaded the bases on two hits and a walk before an error in the next at-bat allowed one run to score. A single through the left side then knocked in two more runs, giving the Redbirds a 4-3 lead.

Neither team scored until the top of the sixth, as Brooke Wyderski led off the inning with a home run to right field to tie the game at 4-4. Loyola carried the momentum into the top of the seventh, as another leadoff home run, this time by Katy LaCivita, gave the Ramblers a 5-4 lead. Nagel then hit a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch before a Balzano double put runners on second and third with no outs. Wyderski then grounded out to the short stop to knock in a run before Annie Korth hit her second double of the day to increase Loyola's lead to 7-4.

Illinois State led off the bottom of the seventh with a home run, but Madison Hope and the Rambler defense ended the inning to give Loyola the 7-5 victory.

The Ramblers wrap up the 2015 campaign next weekend when they host Wichita State at Loyola Softball Park.