Softball swings series win against Loyola

Freshman Laura Swan scored six RBI in a win against Loyola Saturday. Photo: Steve Woltmann

The softball team won the conference series opener, 2-1, over Loyola last weekend.

The Flames claimed a 2-1 win Friday, before beating the Ramblers, 9-1, in five innings to start off Saturday’s twin bill. Loyola edged UIC, 9-8, during the final game at Flames Field.

Senior Coryn Schmit accounted for five of UIC’s nine runs during the first game against Loyola. The first baseman was 3-for-3, including a grand slam and five RBI.

The Flames grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Schmit collected her first RBI of the day.

Loyola added a run in the top half of the third frame — the only Rambler run recorded in the contest.

In the bottom of the third inning, Courtney Heeley posted the first run of six in the frame, before Schmit stepped in with the grand slam to score Natalie Hernandez, Kara Komp and Melissa Preish and collect four RBI. Heeley earned the final RBI of the inning as she singled to score Jenna Marsalli.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Flames added two more runs when Komp and Preish scored to end the game in five innings.

Laura Swan was the game-changer for UIC in the second game. The freshman earned six RBI in the back-and-forth contest.

Loyola collected three runs in the top of the second inning before Swan answered with a two-run home run to score Marsalli.

The Ramblers added another run in the third frame, then Swan battled back with a three-run double to score Komp, Preish and Marsalli and gain a 5-4 edge.

But Loyola regained the lead, 9-5.

The Flames put forth a valiant effort in the bottom of the seventh as Swan earned her sixth RBI off a walk, before junior Jacki Fletcher posted a two-run single.

Despite the seventh-inning spree, Loyola secured the game 9-8.

The team hosts Green Bay today and Thursday, then heads to Detroit for matches Saturday and Sunday.