Northwestern Falls to Loyola (Chicago), 3-2

4/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball

April 22, 2010

Box Score

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Sharon J. Drysdale Field)
Score: Loyola (Chicago) 3, Northwestern 2
Records: NU (20-19), Loyola (Chicago) (16-17)
Next NU Event: April 24, 2010 -- at Indiana, Noon CT

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern scored first in a nonconference game against Loyola (Chicago) Thursday at Drysdale Field, but the Ramblers came back to take the lead and eventually hold off the Wildcats, 3-2.

Northwestern falls to 20-19 overall with the loss while Loyola improves to 16-17 with its win.

Loyola began the game with a pair of base hits against Northwestern starter Jessica Smith (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) in the top of the first, but Smith ended the frame with no runs across with help from a 4-3 double play and a strikeout.

In the bottom of the first, freshman Emily Allard (Antioch, Calif./Deer Valley) led off with an infield single before stealing second base. One out later, Adrienne Monka (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) drew a walk to join her on base, but Loyola starter Hilary Payne escaped unscathed.

The game moved along at a frenzied pace through the early innings with neither team able to push across a run. Northwestern negated another Loyola hit in the third with its second double play of the contest.

The Wildcats broke through first with a run in the bottom of the third. Allard led off with her second hit of the game, a bunt single to the pitcher. The throw to first on the play got away to allow Allard to scamper to second on the error. Two outs later, Nicole Pauly (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) smashed a single back through the middle to drive home Allard and give NU a 1-0 lead.

Loyola answered back immediately in the top of the fourth. The leadoff batter reached on a single before a two-run home run gave the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Kelly Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) tried to make something happen for NU in the bottom of the fourth, crushing a one-out double to right center, but she was thrown out trying to get to third on the play.

Loyola put together another rally in the top of the sixth, getting runners to second and third with one out. The next batter singled into left field to score one run, but Jordan Wheeler (Garden Grove, Calif./Los Alamitos) fired home to nail the trail runner and keep NU within two, 3-1.

With the score the same in the bottom of the seventh, Dyer crushed her third hit of the game over the fence in center to cut the deficit in half, 3-2. Dyer's shot was her fourth of the season and the 22nd of her career. The Wildcats were unable to get any other runs in the inning, though, falling, 3-2.

Smith (7-5) took the loss, allowing three runs on 10 hits with no walks and seven strikeouts, which matched her career high for Ks. At the plate, Dyer was a perfect 3-for-3 while Allard collected a pair of hits for NU.

Northwestern returns to action at noon CT Saturday, April 24, at Indiana.

••••••

Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter and become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook! Get the latest news, schedule updates, video and interact with NU. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!