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Post by Dave Betcher on Mar 7, 2007 11:12:01 GMT -5
Softball Wins Opener, Settles For Doubleheader Split With UC-Riverside
Ramblers rally for 7-5 win in season opener, drop nightcap 12-3
March 2, 2007
Riverside, Calif. - Lindsay O'Gean's two-run single capped a four-run sixth inning as Loyola (1-1) rallied from a 5-3 deficit to claim a 7-5 win in their season-opener this afternoon at UC-Riverside. The Highlanders (8-9) earned the split with a 12-3 win in the second game of the doubleheader.
Loyola opened the season strong, denting the scoreboard in the very first inning of game one. Freshman Stephanie Cihlar drew a one-out walk and promptly stole second. She advanced to third on a ground out before coming in to score on a clutch, two-out hit from Kat Krause that gave LU the early lead. They held the lead until the bottom of the third, when Riverside erupted for four runs to take the lead. However, the Ramblers answered right back, plating a pair in the fourth to get back within a run. Krause opened the inning with an infield single and came all the way around on a Raven Gengler double. After a walk, freshman Ellen Kresl knocked in Gengler with a single to left but a double play and a caught stealing got the Highlanders out of the inning without any further damage.
After a single run by UCR in the bottom of the fifth, the Ramblers mounted their decisive rally in the sixth. With one out, Krause reached on an error by the UCR centerfielder and stole second. Gengler singled Krause to third and then stole second herself, giving LU a pair of runners in scoring position. After a walk loaded the bases, Kresl delivered a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-4 game. An infield single from Ashley Mitchell reloaded the bases and O'Gean followed with her base hit through the right side, clearing the bases as Mitchell was able to score on the throw.
Freshman Amy Solava picked up her first collegiate with with 4.1 innings of solid relief, allowing just one run on three hits with six strikeouts.
Loyola struck early in game two, as RBIs from Nora Schober and Angie Funston helped stake the visitors to a 3-0 lead but the Highlanders responded with seven in the bottom of the inning and cruised from there.
Loyola continues its California swing tomorrow with a pair of games tomorrow. The Ramblers open at UCLA tomorrow at noon before facing Florida at 7:30 p.m.
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Post by Dave Betcher on Mar 8, 2007 9:51:03 GMT -5
Loyola Throws Scare Into No. 22 Cal, But Falls 3-2
Solava allows only two hits in tough-luck loss
March 7, 2007
Box Score
BERKELEY, Calif. - Freshman Amy Solava allowed only two hits and struck out four in six innings, but 22nd-ranked California got a three-run home run from first baseman Julie Meyer to earn a 3-2 victory over Loyola University Chicago (1-7) this afternoon.
Meyer clubbed her three-run shot in the bottom of the second to stake the Bears to a 3-0 lead. Loyola answered with a pair of runs of its own in the top of the fourth inning to cut the deficit to one run. Stephanie Cihlar led off with a bunt single and later scored on a passed ball and Raven Gengler drove in Ellen Kresl on a groundout to the pitcher.
The game stayed that way into the seventh inning when the Ramblers mounted one last scoring threat. Gengler led off with a single, but Loyola was unable to move the runner past first base and missed out on a chance for its first win over a ranked opponent since 2000.
Solava was brilliant in the circle, yielding only two hits. Offensively four Ramblers banged out base hits as Loyola out-hit Cal 4-2, though Ashley Mitchell saw her seven-game hitting streak come to an end.
Loyola is back in action when it competes at the Stanford Classic on Friday afternoon.
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Post by Dave on Mar 29, 2007 23:06:49 GMT -5
Wild Finish Leads Wisconsin Past Loyola, 7-6
Schober and Kresl record two hits each and Krause homers for Ramblers
March 27, 2007
Box Score
MADISON, Wis. - Host Wisconsin (16-7) scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally from a five-run deficit and hand Loyola (4-12) a heartbreaking 7-6 loss in a non-conference contest at Goodman Softball Diamond this afternoon. All 13 runs in the game were scored in innings four through six.
The wild contest seemed destined for a pitcher's duel in the early going as Loyola freshman outfielder Ellen Kresl's infield single in the third inning was the only hit for either squad in the first three frames. That all changed in the fourth however when Raven Gengler led off the Ramblers' half of the inning by reaching on an error and promptly stole second base. She would later score on an error following Nora Schober's single to center field to give Loyola a 1-0 lead.
Wisconsin evened the game in the bottom of the fourth when it loaded the bases with no outs and scored the tying run on a walk. With the sacks packed and no one out, Loyola freshman pitcher Amy Solava toughened and got Theresa Boruta to line into a double play and struck out Lynn Anderson to halt the rally and minimize the damage.
Behind the strength of six hits, Loyola scored five runs in the top of the fifth to break the game open and take a 6-1 lead. Junior Kat Krause blasted a two-run home run, her third of the year, over the left field fence to key the offensive outburst.
That lead would vanish in the sixth inning though as the Badgers put together an improbable rally, scoring six runs, five of which came with two outs, to take a 7-6 lead. Alexis Garcia's fielder's choice grounder scored the go-ahead run. Although the momentum was on Wisconsin's side after that inning, the resilient Ramblers mounted one final comeback in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but were unable to plate the tying run.
Kresl and Schober tallied a pair of hits apiece for Loyola and Solava struck out six in 5.2 innings, but struggled with her control, walking seven Badgers.
Loyola jumps right back into action against a Big Ten Conference foe when it plays its home opener tomorrow against Illinois. Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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Post by Homer Hawks Site Administrator on Apr 7, 2007 7:36:25 GMT -5
Loyola Braves Frigid Temperatures To Sweep Wright State
Kat Krause delivers walk-off homer in ninth inning in game two
April 6, 2007
Box Score
CHICAGO - Not even winter-like temperatures could put an end to Loyola University Chicago's (9-12, 5-0 Horizon) winning streak as the Ramblers swept a doubleheader from Wright State (14-19, 1-4 Horizon) this afternoon at a frigid Loyola Softball Park. With a 4-0 win in the opener, coupled with a dramatic 3-2 victory in nine innings in the nightcap, the Ramblers ran their winning streak to five games, their longest since March 2005.
In game one, sophomore right-hander Krista Crosson scattered seven hits and struck out a career-best 10 Raiders en route to her third shutout of the season and Ashley Mitchell went 4 for 4 to lead Loyola to the win in its home opener.
Loyola scored all four of its runs in the first three innings of the game to take control of the contest, plating its first run via a Wright State error in the top of the first. Mitchell singled in a run in the second and the Ramblers added two more tallies in the third on Nora Schober's suicide squeeze and another Raider error.
The nightcap was a thrilling contest as Loyola rallied late to tie the contest on two occasions before pulling out the victory in the ninth inning on Kat Krause's walk-off home run.
Wright State took a 1-0 lead in the third inning without the benefit of a hit when Malerie Klingler scored on a wild pitch. Loyola right-hander Amy Solava took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Michelle Logan singled with one out to break up the rookie's bid for immortality.
Loyola rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on Mitchell's two-out single that scored Tara Miller, who had led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. The Ramblers had a chance to earn the win in the bottom of the seventh, but stranded a runner on second base.
Kristen Bradshaw's two-out single scored Jherica Williams in the top of the eighth to put Wright State on top, 2-1, but the Ramblers displayed a resiliency that has been their trademark all season, yet again. In the bottom of the eighth, Mitchell laced an RBI double to left field to score Lindsay O'Gean, to even the game at 2-2 and then Krause led off the ninth with a mammoth blast over the left-field fence to cap off the rally.
Solava was sensational in the circle, striking out a season-high 14 batters, while yielding only two hits in the complete-game effort. Mitchell added two more hits in the nightcap and drove in a pair of lead the Loyola offensive attack.
The teams are scheduled to play a single contest tomorrow at noon.
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Post by Dave Betcher on Apr 13, 2007 22:53:29 GMT -5
Krause Homers But Ramblers Drop 3-2 Affair At No. 14 DePaul
Loyola's five-game winning streak halted in tough extra-inning loss
April 10, 2007
Box Score
CHICAGO - Despite a late rally, Loyola University Chicago's (9-13) upset bid came up short in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in nine innings to No. 14 DePaul (25-7) this afternoon at Cacciatore Stadium. The Ramblers saw their five-game winning streak snapped as they were aiming for their first win over the Blue Demons since April 18, 1995.
DePaul took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Marcy Wilus' RBI infield single, then added another tally in the fourth on Wilus' run-scoring double to left center field. Blue Demon right-hander Tracie Adix, who ranked fourth in the nation with a 0.62 ERA entering the game, held Loyola's offense in check until the top of the fifth inning when Nora Schober led off with a single up the middle for the Ramblers' first hit of the contest.
With two outs in the sixth, Ellen Kresl reached on an error, and later scored on Kat Krause's two-run home run over the right center field fence, to tie the contest at 2-2.
DePaul loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Loyola right-hander Amy Solava, who came on in relief, wiggled out of the jam by striking out Marie Thompson and getting Becca Heteniak to pop out, to force extra innings.
Loyola put runners on first and second in the eighth, but was unable to push a run across and in the ninth, DePaul left fielder Katie Sheaks smacked a one-out home run to left field to lift the Demons to their ninth straight win.
Solava was impressive in relief of starter Krista Crosson, allowing only one run in 5.0 innings, while striking out six despite taking the loss.
The Ramblers return home April 12 when they host Western Michigan in a doubleheader.
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Post by Dave Betcher on Apr 14, 2007 18:22:15 GMT -5
Loyola Stays Perfect In Horizon League Play, Takes Pair From UIC
Ramblers sweep doubleheader from Flames for first time since 2001
April 14, 2007
Box Score
CHICAGO - For the first time since 2001, Loyola University Chicago (11-13, 7-0 Horizon) swept a doubleheader from city and Horizon League rival UIC (12-23, 2-3 Horizon), with 4-3 and 8-0 victories at Loyola Softball Park today. The Ramblers, who are a perfect 4-0 at home this season, have won seven of their last eight games overall.
In game one, UIC raced out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to Sarah Clynes' home run to lead off the contest and an unearned run in the second inning. Loyola would score all of its runs in a decisive third inning with the go-ahead runs coming home on Raven Gengler's two-run double to the gap in left center.
The Flames would draw within a run in the sixth thanks to Melissa Marinacci's solo home run, but Amy Solava came on in relief to toss two scoreless innings and strike out three for her second save of the season, making a winner of right-hander Angie Funston for the first time this year.
Six Ramblers had hits in game one, including Ashley Mitchell, who went 2 for 4 with a RBI.
Loyola used a pair of four-run innings to take the nightcap in a shortened, five-inning contest. Gengler's double down the left field line plated Nora Schober, who had led off the second inning with a walk and later stole second, to give the Ramblers a 1-0 lead. Funston would drive in two more runs with a single through the left side and Loyola added another tally on an error to take a commanding 4-0 lead after two innings of play.
The Ramblers used the long ball in the fifth inning to put the game away. Kat Krause continued her torrid hitting by leading off with a long blast over the left field fence and Kristen Medrud walloped a three-run shot, the first of her career, to center to end the game.
Solava scattered a pair of hits and struck out five en route to her fourth win in the last five decisions.
Loyola and UIC wrap up the three-game weekend series with a single game Sunday, April 15 at 1 p.m.
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