Final Stats

CHICAGO - The Loyola University Chicago softball team dropped game one of Saturday's doubleheader against Wichita State, falling to the Shockers 11-4 at Loyola Softball Park. Erica Nagel led the Rambler offense, batting three-for-five and crossing home plate twice, while Jamie O'Brien knocked in a team-high two RBI. Nagel currently rides a seven-game hit streak, while O'Brien increases her run to six games.

Wichita State struck early, as the leadoff batter was hit by a pitch before home run to right field gave the Shockers an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

Both teams were then held scoreless until the top of the third, as a leadoff walk followed by a pair of singles increased the Shocker lead to 3-0. After a walk loaded the bases, a double to left field knocked in two more runs, putting Wichita State on top, 5-0. After another walk, Ashley Rogers entered the game for Madison Hope with the bases loaded and no outs. Wichita State then added four more runs on a walk, two singles and a fielding error to increase the lead to 9-0 with no outs. Rogers and the Rambler defense were then able to force back-to-back groundouts, but one run scored on each play to put the Shockers on top, 11-0.

Loyola responded at the bottom of the frame, as back-to-back singles from Erica Nagel and Jessica Balzano, followed by a Brooke Wyderski walk, loaded the bases with no outs. Jamie O'Brien and Annie Korth each knocked in a run after reaching base on a fielder's choice, cutting the Wichita State lead to 11-2.

The Ramblers struck again in the bottom of the fourth, as Nagel stepped to the plate with two outs and reached base on a Shocker fielding error before stealing second. Jessica Balzano then doubled to right center field to knock in a run, making the score 11-3. A Brooke Wyderski single advanced Balzano to third before Jamie O'Brien singled to give Loyola its second run of the inning.

Madison Hope re-entered the game in the top of the fifth and held the Shockers scoreless for the remainder of the contest, but the Ramblers were unable to score, giving Wichita State the 11-4 victory.