CHICAGO (March 25, 2019) – The Loyola Ramblers begin a stretch of five consecutive games that will be played in Chicago, and 11 straight within the greater Chicago area. First up on the docket is a midweek matchup with the defending Horizon League champion in UIC, set for 4 p.m. at Flames Field. The meeting will be the first of two contests between Loyola and UIC this regular season.
 
2016 marks the only season the current crop of student-athletes have not faced the Flames. The Ramblers edged UIC in the last matchup in a low scoring 1-0 affair at Loyola Softball Park. Kiley Jones was a primary reason why, as the righty tossed a complete-game shutout that kept the Flames off the scoreboard.

Last Time Out: Evansville was victorious in two of the three contests last time the Ramblers were in action (March 23-24), as LUC captured the series opener but dropped the next two. The series-opening victory came with nine runs scored, three of which were driven in by Katie Kasubke. The O'Fallon, Missouri native added one more RBI in the Sunday matinee to give her four total over the weekend and place her two shy of 100 for her career - a feat that would make her just the second Rambler to do so. The Ramblers got 6 and 2/3 innings from Madison Veres in the circle, the pitcher of decision for Loyola's victory. Veres didn't allow an earned run in any of her three appearances in the series.
 
A Look at the Flames: UIC enters Tuesday fresh off a three-game sweep of Cleveland State to improve to 10-14 on the season. The Flames put together a non-conference schedule that had them matchup with three ranked teams for four games, all of which were in the NFCA Top-10 upon the meeting. The lineup is led by the 1-2 punch of Lexi Watts and Skylee James who enter Tuesday hitting .486 and .464 respectively. Additionally, the Flames boast four players hitting over .300 and three with an OPS north of 1.000. Consequently, the preseason Horizon League favorite leads the conference in team batting average (.315), runs (132), RBI (121) and OPS (.858) among others.
 
Series Stuff: The cross-town rivals are extremely familiar with one-another and have played on an annual basis since the Loyola Softball program's inception. The Flames hold the all-time margin, 59-25-1, largely due to their head-to-head success throughout the 1990s. The Ramblers enter Tuesday winners of the most recent meeting thanks to a 1-0 pitcher's duel last season. Kiley Jones posted her fourth shutout of that season with her seven innings of work, while Allyson Ivey added the game's only RBI with a base hit in the third inning.

Up Next: The Maroon and Gold prepare for their home opening series when they welcome the Bradley Braves to Loyola Softball Park for a three-game set to close out the month. The teams play an afternoon doubleheader beginning at noon on March 30, and wrap up the series with an 11 a.m. tilt the next day.

#OnwardLU