CHICAGO (April 23, 2019) – After splitting a doubleheader with the Missouri Valley Conference's second place team in Southern Illinois, Loyola returns to game action with a midweek road contest at Valparaiso. The Ramblers captured both games of a doubleheader earlier this season against the Crusaders, putting them in position to secure their second regular season sweep of an MVC opponent this season. The April 24 afternoon tilt begins at 3 p.m. at the Valpo Softball Complex.
 
Last Time Out: The Ramblers took on Southern Illinois in a weather-shortened two-game series, and came out on top in game number one. The victory ended with extra-inning fireworks, as Katie Kasubke clubbed a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for her first walk-off home run donning the Maroon and Gold. In the circle, Kiley Jones pitched eight innings as a reliever and didn't surrender and earned run. She tossed 5.2 of her innings in game one and ended up being the winning pitcher for that contest.
 
A Look at the Crusaders: Valpo was swept by UNI after the April 9 doubleheader with Loyola, but have since rebounded to win three of its last four games. The team enters Wednesday with a 15-23 overall record, and a 4-15 conference mark to check in ninth in the standings. Valparaiso's offensive production has been paced by Carly Trepanier's team-leading .283 batting average. The Manteno, Illinois native leads the team in hits (32) and total bases (49). Outfielder Peyton Moeder was tabbed the MVC Newcomer of the Week on Monday thanks to her four-game hitting streak. The freshman is tied for third on the team in on-base percentage this season and is one of six Crusaders to tally 20-plus hits in 2019.
 
Series Stuff: Loyola improved to 7-4 in its last 11 meetings with the Crusaders thanks to the doubleheader sweep at Loyola Softball Park back on April 9. On that Tuesday, Allyson Ivey notched five RBI throughout the twin bill, and factored into four of the nine runs Loyola scored in its run-rule triumph in game two. Since 2003, the Ramblers hold the longest head-to-head winning streak of five games (2013-18), as well as the longest overall winning streak when the Ramblers defeated Valpo 10 straight times from 2000-05.
 
Up Next: Loyola plays its last road series of the regular season in Normal, Ill. for a three-game set with Illinois State (April 27-28). With 1.5 games separating the two programs in the standings entering Tuesday, the pivotal series could decide who earns the last spot for a Day One bye in the conference tournament.
 
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