Angie Funston tossed a complete game and hit a grand slam to lead Loyola to a 5-1 win versus UIC
 
Angie Funston tossed a complete game and hit a grand slam to lead Loyola to a 5-1 win versus UIC
 
 
Funston Uses Arm And Bat To Send Loyola Past UIC, 5-1

Senior tosses complete game and hits game-winning grand slam

April 13, 2010

Box Score

CHICAGO - Senior Angie Funston used both her arm and her bat to send Loyola University Chicago (13-14, 5-4 Horizon) to a 5-1 victory over UIC (9-27, 2-5 Horizon) this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park. The righthander tossed a complete game, scattering seven hits, while striking out four, and also hit a game-winning grand slam in the fourth inning as the Ramblers won for the seventh time in the last nine outings.

Both teams wasted golden scoring opportunities in the first inning as UIC put runners on first and second with one out, but was unable to tack a run on the board. Likewise, Loyola saw a prime chance slip through its hands in the first inning as it loaded the bases against Ashley Hewett, but the righthander was able to wiggle out of trouble unscathed.

The Ramblers got on the board in the second inning when Bridget Lally crushed a solo home run to center field for her second roundtripper in the last three games. Loyola's lead would be short-lived however, as UIC loaded the bases with one out and Carly DeMarco delivered a run-scoring infield hit to tie the game at 1-1 in the third inning.

Singles by Stevie Bradich and Brooke Andresen in the bottom of the fourth set the table for the decisive inning for Loyola. After the Flames opted to intentionally walk Jenna Grim, Funston stepped up and hit a grand slam over the left field fence to give the Ramblers a 5-1 advantage.

Funston was able to escape one last sign of trouble in the sixth inning when the Flames had a pair of base runners with two outs, but the senior was able to induce a fly out from pinch-hitter Claire Donyanavard to put out the fire.

Loyola's offense continued its torrid hitting as it registered 11 hits off a pair of Flames hurlers, with Andresen going 3-for-4 to extend her hitting streak to 13 games. Funston, Bradich and Lally also tallied two hits each, with Funston driving in four runs courtesy of that fourth-inning grand slam.

The Ramblers travel to Green Bay for a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 2 p.m.