Feb. 8, 2014
Box Score
CHICAGO - The Loyola University Chicago softball team earned its first win of the 2014 season tonight, defeating cross-town rival UIC, 8-2 inside the Dome at Rosemont in Rosemont, Ill. The Ramblers were powered by freshmen Alyssa Mannucci and Erica Nagel, who combined for four RBIs and three of Loyola's 10 hits in the victory.
Amanda Ciran was dominant in the top of the first, forcing two groundouts and striking out one to fan the Flames. In the bottom of the frame, Mannucci led off the inning with a double that sailed over the head of UIC's center fielder, and Lauren Moore drew a walk but the Ramblers were unable to capitalize.
In the top of the second, Lauren Swan drew a walk before Ashley Rogers replaced Ciran on the mound and immediately struck out Courtney Heeley. UIC then loaded the bases, but Rogers was able to get the Ramblers out of the jam with back-to-back groundouts.
After a Brie Pasquale flyout to left field, Jacquelyn Murphy drew a walk in the bottom of the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Murphy then moved to third on an Olivia Bell slap single to the shortstop, and Mannucci was intentionally walked to load the bases. Erica Nagel then stepped to the plate and power-slapped a triple over the UIC left fielder's head to clear the bases. When a failed pick off attempt by the catcher sent the ball down the third base line, Nagel scampered home to make the score 4-0.
Rogers forced the first two UIC batters to ground out in the top of the third before Jenna Marsalli launched a double into center field. On the next play, Mannucci made a diving catch on a Paige Peterson grounder in the five-six hole and dished the ball to Moore, who tagged Marsalli out at third to get the Ramblers out of the inning.
UIC scored its first run in the top of the fourth, after Swan drew a walk and advanced to second on a Heeley groundout. She was replaced by pinch runner Eleni Polites, who stole third base and scored on a Dana Capocci grounder to shortstop.
The Ramblers answered back in the bottom of the frame, starting with an Annie Korth walk to lead off the inning. After UIC opted to throw Korth out at second on a Bell grounder, Mannucci ripped a two-strike triple to right center to score Bell.
In the top of the fifth, the Flames added another run after Jacki Fletcher singled to right and advanced to second on a Marsalli walk. Fletcher moved to third on a Peterson sacrifice bunt and scored UIC's second run of the game on a sacrifice fly from Swan.
After a lead off double from Tarran Shaffer in the bottom of the fifth, UIC starting pitcher Alice Fitzpatrick was relieved by Elaine Heflin. The Ramblers then loaded the bases by drawing two walks, and an Olivia Bell single to left field scored Kat Widup, who was pinch running for Shaffer, to make the score 6-2.
Though UIC put together back-to-back singles in the top of the sixth, Lauren Moore grabbed a Natalie Hernandez ground ball and turned a double play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the frame, Moore started another Loyola offensive spark with a double to center field. Zaworski followed it up with her own double in the right center gap to score Jessica Balzano, who was pinch running for Moore. Yet another double by Pasquale scored Zaworski, giving the Ramblers an 8-2 lead.
Rogers was lights out in the top of the seventh, holding UIC to one hit and striking out one to give Loyola the victory, 8-2.
Mannucci led the way for the Ramblers, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI. Nagel was 1-for-4 with three RBI.
In six innings pitched, Rogers gave up six hits and two runs, striking out two.
Loyola returns to action tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. when they take on IUPUI inside the Dome in Rosemont, Ill.
