Boxscore (PDF)

CHICAGO (April 28, 2018)
 
In Short
Visiting Drake (38-9, 21-0 MVC) ran its winning streak to 24 games by scoring four runs in the first three innings, then holding off Loyola University Chicago's (21-25, 7-14 MVC) rally, in a 6-3 decision in the nightcap of a doubleheader Saturday at Loyola Softball Park. The Ramblers have lost their last six outings.
 
How It Happened
Taryn Pena's sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning opened the scoring for Drake, which added a pair of runs in the second inning, and another in the third on a Sarah Maddox RBI single, to grab hold of a 4-0 lead through three innings.
 
The game would stay that way until the bottom of the fifth when Loyola got to Drake starter Nicole Timmons for three runs. Back-to-back, one-out singles from Ashley Parenti and Shannon McGee opened up a rally and one out later, catcher Katie Kasubke walloped a three-run home run, her fifth of the season, down the left field line to trim the gap to 4-3. Allyson Ivey followed Kasubke's roundtripper with a two-out single as Loyola threatened to chase Timmons from the game, but the righthander was able to escape without further harm.
 
Drake quickly reclaimed momentum however, plating two insurance runs in the top half of the sixth inning to push its lead to 6-3. A RBI double off the bat of Mandi Roemmich opened the sixth-inning scoring for the Bulldogs, and they added a run-scoring single off the bat of Macy Johnson later in the frame to gain some breathing room on their way to the win.
 
A Look At The Numbers

• Kasubke continued her tear at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI.
• Five of Loyola's six hits came from the top four hitters in the lineup.
• Eight Bulldogs recorded hits, with five different players driving in a run.

 
Up Next
Loyola wraps up the series with Drake, and the home portion of its 2018 schedule, tomorrow at 11 a.m.