Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. (April 18, 2018) 

In Short…
Sophia Swain connected on a two-run home run, while Kiley Jones surrendered only three hits as Loyola University Chicago (20-18, 6-8 MVC) picked up a 2-1 victory over Valparaiso (17-19, 4-10 MVC) this afternoon at the Valparaiso Softball Complex in Valparaiso, Ind.  The second game of today's scheduled doubleheader was postponed due to expected inclement weather.
 
How It Happened
Jones and Valparaiso pitcher Kenzie Grossmann dominated early on.  Jones racked up three early strikeouts over the opening two innings of play, while Grossmann held the Ramblers without a hit until a fourth-inning single by Jordyn Cordell.
 
Swain would provide Loyola with all the offense that it needed on the day in the sixth inning.  Following a lead-off walk by Shannon McGee, who moved to second on a ground out, Swain stepped up as a pinch hitter and clubbed a two-run shot down the left field line to put Loyola on top, 2-0.
 
Valparaiso would look to mount a response in the bottom half of the sixth.  Back-to-back Loyola errors set the stage for a base hit by Taylor Lawson that plated a run and cut the margin to 2-1.  The Crusaders would go on to load the bases with two away, but Jones induced a pop up by Gabby Magnifico to escape the jam.  Jones posted a clean final frame as Loyola closed out a key conference road win.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Swain's two-run shot, one of only two Loyola hits on the day, was her second home run of the season and first since March 9 vs. Seton Hall.
- Jones surrendered only one unearned run and scattered the aforementioned three hits as she struck out three en route to her 15^th victory of the season.
 
Up Next
Loyola returns home on Saturday to begin a three-game series against Missouri State with a noon doubleheader.