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CHICAGO -

Final Score: DePaul 2, Loyola 1
Records: Loyola (18-14); DePaul (16-15)
Location: Loyola Softball Park -- Chicago, Ill.
Stats: Box Score 

In Short
Haydn Christensen’s fifth-inning RBI fielder’s choice provided the winning run as DePaul (16-15) slipped by host Loyola University Chicago, 2-1, this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park. The loss drops the Ramblers to 18-14 overall.

How It Happened
Loyola starting pitcher Keenan Dolezal and DePaul righthander Kayla Landwehrmier were locked in a duel through the first three innings as both hurlers held the opposition without a hit before the Blue Demons were able to manufacture some offense in the top of the fourth. Three consecutive singles in the fourth inning, the final one by Alysia Rodriguez, helped DePaul get on the board for a 1-0 lead.

Loyola answered right back and stole the momentum in the middle of the fourth, getting the rally going with Brooke Wilson’s lead-off single through the right side for the Ramblers’ first hit of the day. Shannon McGee followed with a base hit to center and after Katie Kasubke’s sacrifice bunt gave the Ramblers two runners in scoring position, Jordyn Cordell evened the score with a RBI ground out that scored Wilson.

DePaul countered with another run in the top of the fifth against Kiley Jones, who had come on in relief to start the inning. Pinch runner Celeste Franco scored the go-ahead run on Haydn Christensen’s grounder to second, beating the throw from Cordell, for a 2-1 Blue Demon advantage.

The Ramblers tried to mount one last rally in the seventh when Jamie O’Brien flipped a two-out single to left, but DePaul reliever Kennedy Garcia retired Ashley Parenti on a comebacker to end the threat.

A Look At The Numbers
- Dolezal scattered three hits and fanned two in 4.0 innings for Loyola.
- Wilson, McGee and O’Brien recorded the Ramblers’ three hits on the day.

Up Next
Loyola visits MVC rival Illinois State for a three-game series this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader on April 8.