GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Loyola 9, Northern Illinois 6
Records: LU (16-12); NIU (22-8)
Location: Loyola Softball Park -- Chicago, Ill.
Pitchers of Record:W: Kiley Jones (8-4); L: Tara Thacker (5-5)
Stats: Box Score

In Short...
Loyola scored three runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and held off Northern Illinois, 9-6, in its home opener this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park. The second game of the doubleheader was cancelled due to heavy rain.

Coach Jeff Tylka Says...
"I thought we did a good job of capitalizing on a couple of extra outs that they gave us and made some good pitches when we needed to. It is always nice to be home and win your home opener."

How It Happened
+ Northern Illinois struck first, scoring twice in the second inning on a RBI-double by Abby Howlett and a ground out from Bekah Harnish
+ Loyola stranded two runners in the second and two more in the third before breaking through in the fourth
+ Katy LaCivita led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch, moved to second on a Katie Kasubke single and, one out later, scored on Alyssa Mannucci's double
+ Jamie O'Brien singled to score Kasubke before Brooke Wyderski drove in another run with a two-out single
+ LaCivita was hit by another pitch to lead off the fifth and back-to-back throwing errors by the Huskies saw two runs come across
+ After a Mannucci single, the Ramblers plated another run on a double play ground out to take a 6-2 lead
+ The Ramblers broke it open in the sixth, as five consecutive batters reached base after an inning-opening out
+ Loyola had two chances to end the game early, with runners on second and third and only one out with a 9-2 lead, but could not push the game-ending run across
+ The Huskies got a two-out, grand slam from Emily Naegele in the seventh to account for the final score

Inside The Box Score
+ Four different Ramblers recorded at least two hits, led by a 3-for-3 effort from Wyderski
+ LaCivita reached base all four times, going 2-for-2 with a double, three runs scored and two HBPs
+ Kasubke regained her stroke at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs
+ Loyola has now surpassed its win total from all of last season (16)

Next Up
Loyola stays home and hosts Missouri State this weekend in a three-game series. The teams open with a Saturday afternoon doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for Noon.