April 26, 2009

Box Score

CHICAGO - Senior Kristin Guska went 2-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs in her final home appearance but it wasn't enough as Loyola University Chicago (23-22, 11-10 Horizon) had its Senior Day spoiled with a 6-2 loss to Wright State (29-17, 15-6 Horizon) this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park. The game started 95 minutes later than originally scheduled due to rain in the area, and with the loss the Ramblers have dropped four straight contests.

Loyola starter Amy Solava was able to escape major trouble in the first inning as Wright State loaded the bases, but the junior right-hander was able to squelch the threat by striking out Mollie Berry to end the inning. Wright State was able to break through against Loyola in the third inning, when with one out, Louie Haney doubled and Justine Shilt singled to put runners at the corners. Krista Crosson came on in relief of Solava, but was unable to get out of the jam as Jamie Perkins delivered a RBI single and Allison Cox belted a three-run home run to put the Raiders on top, 4-0.

The Ramblers snatched momentum back in the bottom half of the third inning when Stevie Bradich led off with a walk and moved to second on Kaycee Tharp's infield single. After both runners moved up a base on Stephanie Cihlar's sacrifice bunt, Guska clubbed a ground-rule double to center that scored both runners and cut the deficit in half.

Loyola was unable to capitalize on a golden opportunity in the sixth inning, coming up empty after loading the bases with one out. Wright State tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the seventh courtesy of Shilt's two-run homer to right field to provide the winning margin.

Despite the loss, Loyola finished the home portion of its season with a winning record (7-6) for the third consecutive campaign.

After taking the week off to concentrate on final exams, the Ramblers return to the field next weekend at Detroit when they close out the regular season with a three-game series, May 2-3.