April 5, 2008

Box Score

Valparaiso, Ind. - For the second time in two games today, the fifth inning proved to be Loyola's downfall as Valparaiso scratched out a run in the bottom of the fifth to break a 1-1 tie, sweeping today's doubleheader with a 2-1 win. Loyola drops to 9-15 (3-3 Horizon) with the loss while Valpo improves to 19-11 (4-1) in its first season of competition in the Horizon League.

Valpo got on the board in the bottom of the second, plating a run on a two-out throwing error by Krista Crosson, but the Ramblers would answer in their half of the third inning.

Nora Schober got the rally started with a one-out double and advanced to third on Lindsay O'Gean's sacrifice. Ellen Kresl came through, plating Schober with an infield single to the left side to tie the game, 1-1.

Loyola had a chance to move ahead in the top of the fifth, as Haley Ambrosch laced a one-out single up the middle and Kat Krause was hit by a pitch. After both runners moved up on a fly out, Valpo got O'Gean to ground out to third to end the threat.

Crosson retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the frame before running into trouble. An infield hit and stolen base put a runner in scoring position and, after a walk, Shannon Robinson rapped a double down the right field line to give Valpo the lead.

The Ramblers put the lead-off runner on in the top of the seventh but three successive pop-ups ended the game.

The teams wrap up their weekend series with a single game tomorrow at Noon.