April 5, 2008

Box Score

Valparaiso, Ind. - Host Valparaiso scored five runs in the fifth inning and added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth to rally past Loyola, 7-3, in the opening game of a three-game weekend series at Valparaiso, Ind. The Ramblers drop to 9-14 (3-2 Horizon) with the loss.

The Ramblers got on the board in the second inning when freshman Jenna Grim blasted her third home run of the season, a solo shot over the left-centerfield fence. Loyola used its speed to tack on another run in the third. Haley Ambrosch laced a one-out double down the line, advanced to third on an Ellen Kresl single and came home as part of a double steal to make it 2-0 after three innings. Sophomore Amy Solava seemed to be in control in the circle and had allowed just one hit through four innings. However, the Crusaders erupted in the fifth. A two-out RBI double got Valpo on the board and, after a walk, tied the game on a RBI-single. A key error allowed Valpo to tack on the final three runs in the inning and the Crusaders added two more in the sixth to put the game away.

Kresl continued her sterling play, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of stolen bases to lead the offense.

The teams will play one more game this afternoon before wrapping up the weekend set tomorrow with a single game at Noon.