GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Evansville 4, Loyola 1
Records: UE (23-24, 11-13 MVC); LUC (20-27, 4-18 MVC)
Location: Loyola Softball Park -- Chicago, Ill.
Pitchers of Record: W: Morgan Florey (16-10); L: Keenan Dolezal (2-6)
Stats: Box Score

In Short...
Evansville's Morgan Florey hit a tie-breaking, two-run home run in the fifth inning and added nine strikeouts while going the distance in the circle as the Aces took the opening game of a three-game series, 4-1, this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park.

How It Happened
+ Evansville opened the scoring in the first inning, scoring an unearned run on a Hayli Scott two-out single
+ Loyola looked to respond straight away, as Erica Nagel led off the bottom of the first with a double and Jordyn Cordell was hit by a pitch
+ However, Florey fanned two of the next three hitters to escape the jam unscathed
+ The Ramblers finally broke through in the third inning, as Nagel singled, stole second and came around on a single from Cordell, but they stranded a pair of runners to let Florey off the hook
+ Loyola starter Keenan Dolezal had settled in nicely and Evansville had a runner on first with two outs in the fifth when Florey took a 1-0 pitch over the right-centerfield fence to give the Aces the lead back
+ The Ramblers put runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the inning but UE left fielder Olivia Cheatham made a nice running grab to deny Hannah Jenkins
+ Evansville added another unearned run in the seventh and Florey was able to closer it out

Inside The Box Score
+ Loyola outhit Evansville, 6-4, drew two walks and were hit by three pitches but the Ramblers went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position (2-for-16 with runners on base) and stranded 10 runners for the game
+ Nagel continued to impress at the plate, ripping a pair of hits to lead the LU offense
+ Dolezal put together another solid outing in the circle, allowing only four hits while striking out five