ST. LOUIS, (March 13, 2021)
 
In Short
Allyson Ivey had three hits, including a home run, and Madison Veres tossed a complete game as Loyola University Chicago (3-9) opened play at the Billiken Spring Tournament with a 5-4 decision over Western Illinois (7-7) this afternoon. 
 
How It Happened
Loyola was the first to score in this back-and-forth battle, jumping on the board in the top of the first inning when Nova Sinskul, who had reached on a bunt single, scampered home on a wild pitch. That lead proved to be short-lived however, and Western Illinois erased the early deficit by tying the game on Piper Foote's run-scoring double, then surging ahead, 3-1, when Savannnah Rodriguez clobbered a two-run home run.
 
The Ramblers answered right back in their half of the second inning thanks to Allyson Ivey's two-run roundtripper over the fence in left center to knot the score, then reclaimed the lead in the third, plating two runs, including one on Abbey Jacobsen's RBI groundout.
 
Western Illinois cut Loyola's lead in half, to 5-4, on Alyssa Ealy's run-scoring single in the bottom of the sixth and the Leathernecks were poised to do further damage that inning, loading the bases with one out, but Madison Veres slammed the door on the rally, inducing a pair of ground balls to escape additional harm.
 
Veres finished off the complete-game victory in the seventh, retiring the first two hitters of the inning before Foote and Marcheschi stroked back-to-back singles, putting the winning run on base. However, the senior lefthander worked out of the jam by getting Ealy to ground out to end the game.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Ivey went 3-for-4 with a home run and a pair of RBI to lead the Ramblers, who scored all of their runs in the first three innings.
• Veres scattered nine hits and struck out a pair of Leathernecks in picking up her first win of 2021.

 
Up Next
Loyola matches up with host Saint Louis at 1 p.m. today.