Boxscore (PDF)
CHICAGO (April 28, 2018)
In Short
Allyson Ivey recorded a pair of hits, including a towering solo home run, but Loyola University Chicago (21-24, 7-13 MVC) dropped game one of a doubleheader to Missouri Valley Conference leader Drake (37-9, 20-0 MVC), 7-1, Saturday afternoon and a cold and windy Loyola Softball Park. The Bulldogs extended their win streak to 23 games with the win.
How It Happened
Loyola starter
Keenan Dolezal was uncharacteristically wild in the first inning, walking in a pair of runs as Drake got out to a quick 2-0 lead. But, Ivey provided some hope of an upset when she crushed a mammoth blast over the fence in left field with one out in the bottom of the second inning to cut the Bulldogs' lead in half. The rookie, whose home run was her fourth of the year, touched Drake starter Nicole Newman for the first earned run she has allowed in MVC play this spring.
After the rocky first inning, Dolezal settled in nicely, allowing just one hit over the next three innings, but that all changed in the fifth as Loyola's defense broke down and Drake was the beneficiary of some fortuitous bounces. The Bulldogs put together a five-run fifth inning thanks to seven hits and a Rambler error, to pull away for a 7-1 victory. The big blow in Drake's fifth-inning outburst was a two-run single from left fielder Kelsey Wright.
A Look At The Numbers
- Ivey finished the game 2-for-3 with a home run and a double, accounting for Loyola's only hits off of Newman.
- Freshman southpaw Madison Veres was impressive in relief, tossing 2.1 perfect innings, while striking out three Bulldogs.
- Newman, who entered the game with a 0.44 ERA on the season, allowed two hits and an earned run, while striking out 11.
- Mandi Roemmich went 3-for-4 and Taryn Pena tallied a pair of hits to spark the Drake offense.
Up Next
The Ramblers and Bulldogs play game two this afternoon.
