Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (April 21, 2018)
 
In Short
Missouri State (28-15, 13-4 MVC) scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning to rally past Loyola University Chicago (20-19, 6-9 MVC), 2-1, this afternoon in game one of a doubleheader at chilly Loyola Softball Park. The loss snapped the Ramblers' three-game winning streak, while the Bears ran their winning streak to five contests.
 
How It Happened
The game was a classic pitcher's duel between righthanders Kiley Jones of Loyola and Holly Kelley of Missouri State. Loyola broke through and scored the game's first run in the second inning on Allyson Ivey's towering home run that cleared the fence in left field for a 1-0 lead.
 
For the next two innings, it appeared that would be all the support Jones would need as she allowed just one hit, a third-inning single by Erika Velasquez Zimmer. Shaky defense spelled doom for the Ramblers in a decisive fifth inning, however, as a pair of errors ultimately cost Jones and allowed the Bears to surge ahead, 2-1.
 
Loyola was unable to mount any kind of threat against Kelley from that point on and the righthander retired the final 15 hitters she faced following Ashley Parenti's lead-off walk in the bottom of the third.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Ivey's third home run of the year was Loyola's lone hit of the day against Kelley.
• Jones scattered five hits, struck out three and did not permit an earned run in suffering a tough loss that dropped her to 15-8 on the season.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers battle the Bears in game two of a doubleheader this afternoon.