GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Wichita State 8, Loyola 0 (5 inn.)
Records: WSU (16-12, 4-2); Loyola (15-12, 0-5)
Location: Wilkins Stadium -- Wichita, Kan.
Pitchers of Record:W: Jenni Brooks (8-3); L: Madison Hope (2-4)
Stats: Box Score

In Short...
Wichita State jumped out to the early lead and used a five-run fourth inning to put the game away, sweeping the weekend series from Loyola with an 8-0 (5 inn.) win today at Wilkins Stadium in Wichita, Kan.

Coach Jeff Tylka Says...
"We were unable to move runners along or drive in runs when the opportunities presented themselves and Wichita State had success in those situations. Our pitching was not very sharp this weekend either. We need to get back to the basics and simplify the game."

How It Happened
+ Loyola had a chance to jump on top, as Erica Nagel led off the game with a single, moved to second on an illegal pitch and was at third base with one out after a ground out
+ However, a ground ball back to the pitcher and a strikeout ended the threat and, for the second time in three games this weekend, Wichita State's Brittany Fortner led off the bottom of the first with a home run to give the Shockers the lead
+ The home team hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning to extend to a 3-0 lead
+ The Ramblers put runners on first and second with one out in the fourth but they were left right there and Wichita State put the game away in the bottom half of the inning
+ After LU retired the leadoff hitter, WSU loaded the bases on two singles and a walk
+ Back-to-back walks forced in two runs and, after a strikeout, the Shockers scored one run on a wild pitch and two on a clutch single from Macklin Hitz to make it an 8-0 lead
+ Loyola needed a run in the top of the fifth to extend the game but was unable to dent the scoreboard

Inside The Box Score
+ Wichita State recorded three hits in 1.1 innings against starter Madison Hope, all solo home runs
+ Nagel and Katy LaCivita recorded Loyola's two hits in the game and LaCivita hit .429 (3-for-7) with Loyola's only two RBIs over the weekend set
+ Nagel, who entered the weekend as the nation's leading hitter, went 1-for-2 and actually saw her batting average slip to .517 for the season
+ Loyola went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position in the game and went 1-for-13 (.077) in such situations over the weekend

Next Up
Loyola returns to the Windy City and faces Northern Illinois on Wednesday (March 30) in its home opener. First pitch of the mid-week doubleheader is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Loyola Softball Park.