April 3, 2008

Box Score

Evanston, Ill. - Loyola got on the board first but were unable to hold down No. 15 Northwestern's potent offense in a 9-1 defeat this afternoon at Drysdale Field in Evanston, Ill. The Ramblers fall to 9-13 with the loss while the Wildcats improve to 18-9 on the year.

The Ramblers got off to a good start, plating a run in the top of the first inning. Ellen Kresl led off with an infield hit and moved to second on a Lindsay O'Gean walk. The runners each moved up a base on Angie Funston's successful sacrifice before Kresl was cut down at the plate on Kat Krause's squeeze bunt. Krause promptly stole second to put runners back on second and third and Nora Schober followed with a base hit down the line. O'Gean scored on the play but Krause was thrown out at the plate to end the inning, limiting LU to just a single run.

Three straight hits to start the home half of the first inning led to a three-run frame for the Wildcats but the Ramblers battled right back in the top of the second. Jenna Grim reached on an error to open the inning and pinch-runner Stephanie Cihlar took second on a passed ball. A Haley Ambrosch ground out advanced Cihlar to third but LU was unable to get her home as she was tagged out at third on a failed squeeze attempt.

A two-run homer by Michelle Batts was the big blow in NU's three-run second inning, putting the hosts up 6-1 after two innings. The Wildcats plated a single run in the third before putting the game away in the fourth, with Batts again doing the damage with her second round-tripper of the game.

Kresl and Schober's first-inning hits were the only safeties in the game for the Ramblers while Batts finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with two homers, a double and five RBI to lead Northwestern.

Amy Solava took the loss in the circle for LU, giving up six runs in two innings, to fall to 6-7 for the season.

Loyola resumes its Horizon League schedule with a three-game weekend series at Valparaiso.