CHICAGO (April 22, 2021) - For the first time in a month, Loyola University Chicago (9-22, 5-10 MVC) plays away from home when it visits Missouri State for a three-game series, April 24 and 25. The Ramblers have struggled in true road games this spring, winning just once in 12 tries, with that lone victory coming at Evansville in the Missouri Valley Conference opener on March 20.

Senior first baseman Allyson Ivey is batting .465 (33-for-71) with nine doubles, four home runs and 16 RBI over the last 23 contests. The right-handed hitter has hit safely in 20 of the last 23 contests, totaling 10 multi-hit efforts in that stretch, and brings a seven-game hitting streak into this weekend's series at Missouri State. During her current seven-game hitting streak, Ivey is 12-for-22 (.545) with three doubles, two homers and five RBI.

Junior shortstop Madison Ebeling has hit safely in 13 of the last 15 games, including each of the last seven, and over the last 14 contests is 21-for-46 (.457) with a double, a triple, three home runs and seven RBI. Over the last 18 outings, the Bartlett, Ill., native has bumped her batting average over 150 points, from .152 to .322, by going 24-for-57 (.421). In her last four road games, Ebeling is 7-for-11 (.636) with two dingers, three RBI and three stolen bases. Ebeling is hitting .426 (20-for-47), with a .491 on-base percentage, in Missouri Valley Conference play this spring.

Righthander Sydney Ruggles has been solid in her last two starts, tossing 11.0 innings and striking out 13 batters, while walking only six and allowing just one earned run (0.64 ERA). The junior has struck out 26 hitters in her last 19.0 innings of work on the road and fanned a career-high 14 batters in a 1-0 victory at Evansville on March 20.

Five of outfielder Caitlin Engelking's last eight hits have gone for extra bases (three doubles and two home runs) and in her last three games, the senior is batting .556 (5-for-9) with three doubles and three RBI. Over her last four appearances on the road, she is hitting .400 (4-for-10) with two homers and three RBI. 

Catcher Abbey Jacobsen is hitting .429 (6-for-14) during her current five-game hitting streak, which is the longest of her career. She has thrown out 11 of 28 would-be base stealers this season.

Loyola – Missouri State -= The Series

The Ramblers and Bears are meeting for the 17th time in a series that started in 2014 when Loyola joined the Missouri Valley Conference. Missouri State owns a 12-4 edge in the all-time series and has won eight of the last nine meetings between the teams, including each of the last four. This weekend, the Ramblers will be seeking their first-ever win against the Bears in Springfield, Mo., having come up short in each of their previous nine contests there. In fact, Loyola has managed just four runs in its last six games against MSU at Killian Stadium, getting out-scored 23-4 during that stretch.

Scouting Missouri State

Missouri State brings a three-game winning streak into this weekend's series with Loyola but prior to that positive run, had dropped five straight outings. The Bears will be playing their first home game since March 30 and are 5-2 at Killian Stadium this spring. MSU ranks third in The Valley with a 2.90 team earned-run average and senior lefthander Madison Hunsaker is 7-4 with a 1.81 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 69.2 innings pitched and is also hitting .297 (27-for-91) with three home runs and a team-best 20 RBI. Senior shortstop Daphne Plummer leads the Bears with a .358 (34-for-95) batting average and 12 stolen bases. 

Up Next

Loyola makes the short trip to Valparaiso for a doubleheader on April 28. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.