Feb. 8, 2008

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - Kat Krause and Jenna Grim hit home runs as part of a six-run third inning as Loyola University Chicago (1-1) earned a 12-11 victory in eight innings over host UNLV (1-1) tonight at the Sportco Spring Kick-off Classic. Krause finished the game with a pair of home runs to increase her Loyola career record to 28 as the Ramblers bounced back from a tough 3-0 loss to Washington earlier today. Loyola hit four home runs in the game.

Krause helped Loyola get on the board first, getting hit by a 0-2 pitch in the top of the first and later scoring on Ellen Kresl's RBI groundout to first base. In the bottom of the inning Alyssia De La Torre's one-out triple gave the Rebels a scoring threat, but Loyola right-hander Krista Crosson was able to work out of the jam, slamming the door on the threat by striking out Stephanie Bean.

Loyola seemingly broke the game open in the top of the third when Krause's lead-off home run, her first roundtripper of the season, put the Maroon and Gold on top, 2-0. Katie Duffy's bases-loaded walk forced in a run, and after a Kaycee Tharp RBI groundout, Grim, a freshman, walloped her first career homer, a three-run shot over the fence in right-center.

In the top of the fourth, third baseman Angie Funston smacked a two-run homer, the first of her career, to increase Loyola's lead to 9-0, and Krause delivered her second home run of the night, also a two-run shot, in the fifth inning.

However, UNLV refused to go quietly, scoring four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to cut the Loyola lead to 11-8. The Rebels loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh and Laura Briones ripped a two-out, two-strike double to clear the bags and tie the game at 11-11 and force extra innings.

Loyola maintained its poise, and playing with international tie-breaker rules, Krause was placed on second base to start the top of the eighth inning. She moved to third on Kristin Guska's sacrifice bunt and scored on Funston's suicide squeeze to provide the winning margin.

Grim had three hits and Funston, Krause and Lindsay O'Gean tallied two hits apiece to lead Loyola's offensive outburst

The Ramblers continue play at the Sportco Spring Kick-off Classic tomorrow with games against Texas Tech and No. 2/3 Arizona State.