Live Stats
Live Stream (Sat., Gm 1) | Live Stream (Sat., Gm 2) | Live Stream (Sun.)
 
CHICAGO (March 22, 2019) – The Loyola University Chicago softball team continues its road stretch with a three-game series at the University of Evansville.  The string of contests begins with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. on Saturday (March 23) and concludes with an 11 a.m. tilt on Sunday (March 24).
 
The Ramblers last saw the Purple Aces in 2018 for a three-game series at Loyola Softball Park. Loyola was victorious in the middle game behind two solo home runs by Katie Kasubke and Shannon McGee, and a complete game shutout from Kiley Jones.
 
Last Time Out: The Ramblers dropped three low-scoring contests to Missouri State last weekend (March 16-17) in Springfield, Mo. Despite the setback, the pitching staff dazzled to the tune of just four earned runs surrendered over the 18.1 innings pitched (1.53 ERA). Kiley Jones logged the most innings (9.1) out of the three Rambler hurlers that made an appearance and didn't allow an earned run, a feat that lowered her MVC-leading ERA to 1.04 on the season. Shannon McGee and Jessica Shields led the offensive attack with four hits apiece. McGee enters the weekend on a five-game hitting streak, and is hitting .513 with 11 RBI and 15 runs scored since Feb. 22. The junior needs three doubles and six RBI to set a single-season career high.
 
A Look at the Purple Aces: Evansville, picked to finish ninth in the MVC, is currently in the midst of a nine-game homestand. UE's offense is paced by junior Katie McLean, who enters Thursday with a .358/.500/.493 slash line. The left-handed hitting outfielder leads the team in hits (24), walks (19), on-base percentage (.500) and shared the lead in runs scored with 14. Eryn Gould has provided the Aces with their power in the middle of the lineup, entering Thursday with a .656 slugging percentage to rank 10^th in the Valley. Sixth-year head coach Mat Mundell has rolled with the 1-2 punch of Izzy Vetter and Emily Lockhart in the circle, a duo that's logged 114.1 of the team's 152.2 innings this season.
 
Series Stuff: The Ramblers and Aces tangled 19 times prior to LUC's arrival in the Missouri Valley Conference. All-time, Evansville holds the 17-16 edge in a series that dates back to 1990. Loyola has notched three separate three-game winning streaks over UE, with the most recent one coming in parts over the 2014-15 seasons. Kiley Jones has a pitched 26.2 career innings versus Evansville and spots a 2.16 ERA.
 
Up Next: Loyola spends all of next week in Chicago, beginning with a March 26 tilt on the west side against the UIC Flames. The midweek matchup sets the table for the Ramblers' home opener against the Bradley Braves on March 30.