Ramblers Continue To Roll, Rally Late Knocking Off No. 7 Providence

The Loyola Ramblers completed the series sweep against Chicago Catholic League Blue rival No. 7 Providence Catholic on Saturday afternoon at Tom Dedin Field. Providence took an early 3-0 lead plating one in the first on an RBI single from Jake Walsh and two in the second on RBI hits by Luke Pell and Bryce Barnett (Arizona State commit). The early outburst was not enough as the scrappy Ramblers clawed their way back to a 6-4 road victory.

Ryan Manikowski and his slider were the story in the early going. The Creighton commit worked around potential jams in the first two frames with a little help from his friends on defense, only to strike out the side in the third. Manikowski fanned all three in the sixth as well, finishing with ten strikeouts, eight of which ended with his slider.

The Ramblers got to Manikowski in the fourth. The first two Ramblers to come to the dish reached via infield error and a base on balls. Colin Summerhill then clubbed a two-run double to the right-center gap and came around to score on an RBI single by Andrew Smart, 3-3 tie.

Two game-changing momentum swings came for Loyola in middle going. Summerhill gunned down a potential base stealer to end 4th and battery-mate Joe McKermitt (North Central commit) ended a two-out rally in the 6th with a backwards K, erupting the visiting dugout for the rally in the next frame.

Tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh, Manikowski exits and Brennan Geers (Triton JC commit) takes the mound. The Ramblers loaded the bases on three singles setting the table for Jake Novak (Wisconsin-Milwauke commit) who delivered a two RBI single through the right side scoring Jack Moran (Wisconsin-LaCrosse commit) and Joe Birchard. Summerhill would strike again this time by means of a sacrifice fly scoring Ryan Nevins, 6-3 in favor of the Ramblers.

Providence put up their final fight in the bottom of the 7th starting with a leadoff walk by Ryan Maloney. Three batters later, Josh Mrozek (Kent State commit) drew a walk to set up Brendan Slota for his second double of the game, this one in RBI fashion. Colin Gillespie ended the threat and the game striking out the final hitter of the contest, stranding runners at second and third.

McKermitt earned the victory on the mound for the Ramblers, and Gillespie the save, while Manikowski takes a tough loss on the chin for Providence.

TOP PERFORMERS

+ 1B Brendan Slota (Providence): 2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, R
+ LF Luke Pell (Providence): 2-for-3, RBI, R
+ CF Jake Novak (Loyola): 1-for-3, 2RBI, R, BB
+ C Colin Summerhill (Loyola): 1-for-3, 3 RBI, BB
+ RHP Ryan Manikowski (Providence): 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 K
+ LHP Joe McKermitt (Loyola): 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 5 K

For more in-depth notes from the games - and all other games that we cover - visit the Illinois Scout Blog.