March 25, 2012
Box Score
DAYTON, Ohio - For the second straight outing, lefthander Brittany Gardner was nearly unhittable as Loyola University Chicago (6-12, 2-1 Horizon) earned a series victory with an 8-0 win at Wright State (10-15, 1-2 Horizon) this afternoon at WSU Softball Field. Gardner struck out 11 and allowed only two hits, at one point retiring 19 straight Raiders, before Kacie Rapshus' two-out double in the seventh.
Gardner wouldn't need much backing from the Rambler offense today but she got all of the support she would need in the top of the first inning. Loyola capitalized on a pair of Raider errors to score two runs, the first coming when Lauren Arceneaux, who had led off the game with a walk, scored on a throwing error by shortstop Chelsea Archer. One out later, Jessica Balzano crossed the plate when Lauren Moore reached on an error by WSU second baseman Angie Clark.
Loyola added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning when Arceneaux again got things cooking for the Ramblers. After she singled with one out, Arceneaux promptly stole second and Balzano's ensuing single gave the Ramblers runners at the corners. Brooke Andresen's fielder's choice scored Arceneaux and Balzano would later score on a double steal to put Loyola ahead, 4-0.
The Ramblers would salt away the game with a four-run seventh inning, the big blow coming in the form of Moore's two-run double with the bases loaded. Lauren Zaworski also added a RBI single in the inning to help Loyola post its highest run total since a 15-1 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on March 9.
Loyola touched Wright State starter Krystian DeWitt for nine hits on the day, with Moore driving in three runs. Arceneaux finished the day 2 for 3 with three runs scored and three stolen bases, while Balzano tallied a pair of hits, stole two bags, and scored three times. Gardner's 11 strikeouts tied a career high.
After playing their first 18 games away from home, the Ramblers play their home opener on Wednesday, March 28, when they host Northern Illinois in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
