LONGWOOD, Fla – (February 28, 2020)
 
In Short
After falling to 11th-ranked Kentucky, the Loyola University Chicago softball team defeated Western Michigan, 4-3 in their first day at The Spring Games in Longwood, Fla. Loyola posted a season-high 11 hits against Western Michigan and Allyson Ivey led the day for the Ramblers with three hits, two RBI and one home run. 
 
How It Happened
 
Game One: Kentucky 10, Loyola 2
 
Kentucky jumped on the board first, scoring in the bottom of the second after a Loyola fielding error advanced the Wildcats to third base. Kentucky then stole second base and was able to score from third. After a Loyola throwing error, the Wildcats tallied another run, taking a 2-0 lead.
 
Not backing down, Allyson Ivey came up in the top of the fourth and cranked a homerun over the center field wall to put the Ramblers on the board, 2-1.
 
The Wildcats extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs after a single, double and homerun to make it 6-1.
 
In the top of the sixth, Jessica Shields and Madison Ebeling had back-to-back singles, followed by another Ivey single to right field. After Ebeling advanced to third, Shields was able to score.
 
Kentucky sealed the win in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four more runs after loading the bases. The Wildcats launched a double and another single to take the win, 10-2.
 
Game Two: Loyola 4, Western Michigan 3
  
Western Michigan scored early, as a single from the Broncos drove two runners in for a 2-0 lead. In the top of the third, WMU scored again off of a single and a double to drive in another run. 

The Ramblers responded shortly after, as Shannon McGee sent a sacrifice fly to left field. Abbey Jacobsen was on base after previously singling to center field. She advanced to second on a Shields single and was stranded at third. Loyola ending the inning trailing 3-1. 

Loyola continued to fight into bottom of the fourth. Nova Sinskul singled to center field and stole second base, bringing Caitlin Engelking up to bat. Engelking fired to left field and advanced Sinskul. Emily Borg then came up and sacrifie flied to left field, sending Sinskul home. Shields followed, sacrifice flying to left field and allowing Engelking to score for an RBI. 

The game carried on through the eighth inning and Katie Polaski was placed on second. Sinskul grounded out to second base, allowing Polaski to advance to third. After Engelking singled, Polaski scored for the 4-3 victory.

A Look At The Numbers
- Allyson Ivey led the day for the Ramblers with three hits, two RBI and one home run.
- Jessica Shields posted two hits, one run and one RBI.
- Shannon McGee and Caitlin Engelking each had two hits and one RBI.

Up Next:
Loyola continues The Spring Games tournament tomorrow with games against Albany at 10 a.m. and Dartmouth at 1:30 p.m.