April 24, 2008

Box Score

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - For the second straight day, Loyola University Chicago (15-19-1) dropped an extra-inning affair, this time falling in game one of a doubleheader versus Notre Dame (31-16-1), 4-3 in eight innings at Melissa Cook Stadium tonight. Game two was called because of rain with the score tied at 2-2 with one on and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. The 2-2 stalemate marks Loyola's first tie since April 7, 1998.

In the opener, Notre Dame drew first blood, scoring in the bottom of the first inning on Christine Lux's two-out, RBI single, which scored Sarah Smith. The hosts maintained the 1-0 lead until the top of the fourth inning when the Ramblers evened the score on Kat Krause's RBI groundout. Loyola benefited from a pair of Irish errors in the inning and Krause made Notre Dame pay as her groundout scored Nora Schober to even the score and give Krause her 90th career RBI, a Loyola record.

Two more ND errors in the fifth inning aided the Loyola offense and Angie Funston's two-out single plated a pair of runs to put the Ramblers on top, 3-1.That lead wouldn't last long however, as Notre Dame tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning with the game-tying hit coming on a single by Ashley Ellis.

Neither team was able to reclaim the lead in the final two frames, thereby forcing extra innings. Using the international tie-breaker rule in which a team starts the inning with a runner on second base, Loyola was unable to capitalize on a golden opportunity in the top of the eighth. Stephanie Cihlar was placed on second base to start the inning and moved to third on a passed ball, but ND hurler Brittney Bargar was able to escape the jam without any damage.

In the Fighting Irish's half of the eighth inning, Ellis delivered another clutch hit, this time stroking a single that scored Linda Kohan to give Notre Dame a 4-3 win.

Schober went 2 for 4 to lead Loyola's offense, while Funston drove in a pair of runs in game one.

In the nightcap, Schober drew a two-out walk in the top of the first, promptly stole second base and scored on Funston's double down the left field line to give Loyola an early 1-0 advantage. The Ramblers added to that lead in the second inning when Kristen Medrud forced in a run upon being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. However, Loyola was unable to add to its lead, stranding the bases loaded, though it still owned a 2-0 edge.

Notre Dame whittled away at the Loyola lead, drawing within a run on Lux's solo home run to lead off the bottom of the second inning. The game remained that way until the bottom of the sixth when Brianna Jorgensborg ripped a two-out double down the left field line to score Erin Marrone and even the score at 2-2. The game was called due to rain with one on and nobody out in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Funston and Jenna Grim each recorded a pair of hits to pace Loyola's offensive attack.

Loyola returns home to play a pivotal three-game weekend series against League-leader Cleveland State, April 26-27 at Loyola Softball Park.