Blue Raiders fall to Loyola-Chicago in last inning

Sunday, February 26

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

1:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Loyola Chicago

2/26/2006 4:55:00 PM | Softball

By: MT Media Relations

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee women's softball team dropped another tough game at the MT Breast Cancer Strikeout Classic by falling to Loyola-Chicago, 7-3, in a game much closer than the final score. The Blue Raiders (2-9) took a 3-2 lead into the seventh inning but could not hold off Loyola-Chicago as the Ramblers plated five runs in their final at bat to pickup their first win of the year. After falling behind 2-1 at the end of three innings, Middle Tennessee scored single runs in the fourth and sixth to take a 3-2 advantage before the Ramblers exploded in their half of the seventh. After being held to just four hits in two games Saturday, Middle Tennessee struck for 10 hits against Loyola-Chicago. Michelle Wilkes paced the Blue Raiders by going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, while Kristine Reed and Samantha Floyd added two hits each. Wilkes now leads the team with 14 total hits. On the mound, Laura Moore turned in a stellar performance until the final inning when she gave up seven straight hits and five runs. Moore, who had six strikeouts, dropped to 1-4 on the year. A highlight on the day was a rare triple play turned by the Blue Raiders in the sixth inning. With a runner on second and third, Moore got a grounder to shortstop Shelby Stiner who threw to first baseman Samantha Floyd for the first out. Floyd then threw home to catcher Katie Mielke who tagged the runner out trying to score. Mielke then threw back to Stiner covering second. Stiner and Melissa Weiland tagged the Rambler runner in a rundown to complete the triple play. Middle Tennessee will travel to Tennessee-Martin on Tuesday to take on the Skyhawks in a doubleheader.