DES MOINES -

Final Score: Drake 8, Loyola 0 (5 inn.)
Records: Loyola (26-25, 9-17 MVC); Drake (28-26, 11-15 MVC)
Location: Ron Buel Field -- Des Moines, Iowa
Stats: Box Score 

In Short
Kailee Smith pitched a perfect game and Drake (28-26, 11-15 MVC) pounded out 12 hits to earn an 8-0 victory over Loyola University Chicago in five innings today at Ron Buel Field. The Ramblers fall to 26-25 overall and 9-17 in the Missouri Valley Conference and will have the No. 8 seed in next week’s MVC Tournament, which opens May 11 in Normal, Ill.

How It Happened
Drake ripped three hits, including a run-scoring single by Kaitlyn Finneran, to seize a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Loyola avoided further damage thanks to center fielder Brooke Wilson, who fired a strike to Katie Kasubke to nab Kennedy Frank at the plate.

Four infield singles highlighted a rough third inning for Loyola pitchers as the Bulldogs broke the game open by scoring five runs on six total hits. The big blow in the inning was a two-run double off the bat of Finneran.

The Bulldogs capped the scoring with two runs in the fourth to extend their lead to 8-0. Loyola had no answer for Smith, who was impressive in striking out three, while facing the minimum 15 batters.

A Look At The Numbers
- Four Bulldogs tallied two hits apiece, led by Finneran, who went 2-for-2 with three RBIs.

Up Next
Loyola will play the No. 5 seed, Evansville, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 11 in the first round of the single-elimination MVC Tournament in Normal, Ill.