April 3, 2016 Box Score
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Junior pitcher Erin Struemph struck out a career-high 13 batters in the opening game of the day, but the host Loyola Ramblers prevailed in a sweep of the Bears on Sunday. Missouri State (13-18, 2-5) dropped game one, 4-0, and the Ramblers (18-12, 2-5) finished off the sweep with a 9-1 win in six innings in the second game.
Struemph's 13 strikeouts in game one surpassed her previous career-high of 11 set at Northern Iowa on April 19, 2014. It also tied a season-high for all MVC pitchers this year and it was the highest total by an MSU hurler since 2011.
Offensively, senior Erin Duewel had two hits on the day and scored the lone run for MSU. Junior Olivia Roark added a pair of hits and Molly Fields drove in a run with a game two hit. Freshman Darian Frost had a hit and drew two walks.
Game 1 -- Missouri State 0, Loyola 4
The Bears got the leadoff batter aboard to begin the game as Erika Velasquez Zimmer reached on an infield single and advanced to second on an error. Loyola was able to strand her there without MSU getting a run.
In the second inning, Duewel singled up the middle on the first pitch. Elena Gambill was hit by a pitch and Darian Frost reached on an infield single to load the bases. But a fielder's choice putout at the plate sparked the Loyola defense to get out of the jam.
The Ramblers put up two runs in the fourth on a two-run home run. Loyola added two more in the sixth on a two-run double.
Roark singled in the fifth and Duewel picked up her second hit of the game in the sixth, but MSU was not able to generate a run in either frame.
Game 2 -- Missouri State 1, Loyola 9 (6)
Roark singled in the first for the Bears, but only reached second base in the frame. The Ramblers took a first inning lead on a three-run home run just three batters into the inning.
Missouri State had a runner on base in the second and the third inning, but were not able to score in either frame. In the fourth inning, Duewel started a rally with a one-out walk. Gambill singled to left to put two aboard. Molly Fields then roped a single to right-center to score the first run of the game for MSU.
Loyola had four-straight singles to begin the bottom of the fourth and regain a three-run lead. Kaitlin Beason came on in relief with the bases loaded and no outs. She induced a pair of ground balls to get out of the jam unscathed.
The Ramblers put the finishing touches on a doubleheader sweep by sending eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth. Loyola scored five times to run-rule the Bears.
MSU kicks off a five-game home stand on April 6 with a 6:00 p.m. contest versus Central Arkansas at Killian Stadium. The home weekend series against SIU on April 9-10 will feature a reunion of the 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2006 championship teams as part of Legacy Weekend. A free youth clinic will be held after the April 10 game.
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