CHICAGO -

Final Score: Loyola 1, Northern Iowa 0
Records: Loyola (24-20, 7-13 MVC); Northern Iowa (26-17, 14-6)
Location: Loyola Softball Park -- Chicago, Ill.
Stats: Box Score 

In Short
Ashley Parenti’s RBI infield single in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted Loyola University Chicago a 1-0 victory over Northern Iowa (26-17, 14-6 MVC) this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park and gave the Ramblers their third straight Missouri Valley Conference series win. The Ramblers, who have now won six of their last seven contests, improve to 24-20 overall and 7-13 in Valley play with today’s win.

How It Happened
In game one of the series yesterday, the Ramblers and Panthers combined for 13 runs before closing out the doubleheader with a 1-0 decision. Today’s series finale was similar to yesterday’s nightcap, as Loyola starter Keenan Dolezal and UNI righthander Jaclyn Spencer engaged in a pitchers’ duel.

Dolezal retired the first 10 Panthers she faced before Brittney Roby reached on a bunt single with one out in the top of the fourth inning and the righthander allowed just two hits in 5.0 innings of work.

Loyola staged a rally in the bottom of the sixth when Shannon McGee coaxed a walk from Spencer to lead off the inning, then advanced up to second on Erica Nagel’s sacrifice bunt. After Alyssa Mannucci moved McGee up a base on a ground out to second, Parenti hit a shot into the hole that UNI shortstop Sammey Bunch backhanded, but Parenti beat the throw by a step as McGee scampered home for the go-ahead run.

Northern Iowa threatened in its final at-bat, tallying back-to-back two-out singles, but Kiley Jones, who relieved Dolezal to start the sixth inning, slammed the door and got Bunch to ground out to second for the final out.

A Look At The Numbers
- Nagel, Parenti and Alyssa Sclafani recorded Loyola’s only hits on the day.
- Jones scattered three hits in 2.0 innings of scoreless relief to earn her 16th win of the year.

Up Next
Loyola steps out of conference play Tuesday when it visits UIC for a single game at 4 p.m.