ROSEMONT, Ill. -

Final Score: Loyola 3, Western Illinois 2
Records: Loyola (2-0); Western Illinois (1-1)
Location: The Dome at the Ballpark -- Rosemont, Ill.
Stats: Box Score 

In Short
Alyssa Mannucci’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly scored Katie Kasubke to provide the difference as Loyola University Chicago rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to record a 3-2 victory over Western Illinois (1-1) at the Total Control Invitational at The Dome at the Ballpark tonight. The win improves the Ramblers to 2-0 on the young season.

How It Happened
Loyola spotted Western Illinois single runs in the first and third innings before rallying to even the score in the bottom of the third inning on Shannon McGee’s two-run triple.

The game would stay that way until the bottom of the sixth, when Katie Kasubke hit a flair that landed just fair down the right field line and kicked away from the Leathernecks’ rightfielder, allowing Kasubke to move to third base. Mannucci followed with a long fly to center that easily scored the Rambler catcher for the go-ahead run.

Sophomore righthander Kiley Jones did a masterful job of escaping trouble, seemingly all night long. She worked her way out of jams in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, stranding a pair of Western Illinois runners on base in each frame, and she also survived a hair-raising seventh inning to earn the win.

WIU pitcher Emily Ira singled to lead off the top of the seventh, giving the Leathernecks a prime chance to tie the game. Jones, however, wouldn’t let Ira’s leadoff hit get to her, as she struck out Rachel Beatty before getting the next two batters to hit into a fielder’s choice and a game-ending groundout, respectively, as Loyola held on for the victory.

A Look At The Numbers
- Kasubke registered her second multi-hit performance in as many games this season, poking two hits.
- McGee capped an impressive debut by driving in two more runs, giving her four in the two games on Friday.
- Jones went the distance for her first win of the season, scattering seven hits, while striking out two.

Up Next
Loyola continues play at the Total Control Invitational on Saturday when it hosts former Horizon League rivals Green Bay and Detroit.