Loyola's Moore, Gardner Sweep Softball Weekly Awards

INDIANAPOLIS -- Loyola junior third baseman Lauren Moore (Antioch, Ill./Antioch) has been named Horizon League Softball Player of the Week, while Ramblers junior Brittany Gardner (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) has earned Horizon League Softball Pitcher of the Week honors, for the week of Feb. 18-24.

In a rain-soaked weekend at the Kickin’ Chicken Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Loyola (1-2) opened the season iwth a 7-0 win over Rhode Island ahead of a doubleheader sweep at the hands of host Coastal Carolina, 5-1, and 5-3.

Moore led Loyola offensively, going 5-for-10 at the plate with a pair of home runs and four RBI. In Loyola’s victory over Rhode Island, the junior was 3-for-4 at the plate, clubbing a three-run homer. After Saturday’s games were washed out, Moore came back on Sunday and hit her second homer in as many games, a solo shot in the Ramblers’ 5-1 loss.

Gardner started two games for the Ramblers, turning in a 1-1 record. Against Rhode Island, Gardner twirled a one-hitter, striking out six Rams. The victory was the 34th of the junior’s career, moving her into a tie for fourth on the Loyola career list. Gardner, the 2012 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, took the loss in Loyola’s 5-3 defeat against Coastal Carolina, striking out six to give her 404 on her career, the third-most in Ramblers history.

Loyola will head to the USF Under Armour Invitational March 1-3. The Ramblers will meet Quinnipiac, Florida Gulf Coast, Eastern Kentucky, Central Michigan and Toledo across the three days.

Softball Player of the Week:
Feb. 12:    Joylyn Ichiyama, Valparaiso
Feb. 19:    Dara Toman, Cleveland State
Feb. 26:    Brittany Gardner, Loyola

Softball Pitcher of the Week:
Feb. 12:    Sierra Pico, Valparaiso
Feb. 19:    Susan Knight, Cleveland State
Feb. 26:    Lauren Moore, Loyola