Loyola Softball Struggles at University of South Florida Tournament

The Loyola softball team headed to Tampa, Florida Feb. 23-25 for the University of South Florida’s USF Tournament. The Ramblers competed against five teams in the tournament, including No. 4 University of Washington and No. 7 Oklahoma State University. 

University of Washington – Feb. 23

The Huskies got started early in the top of the first with a double to left field by fifth-year infielder Jillian Celis. After back-to-back walks by third-year infielder Rylee Holtorf and fifth-year pitcher Brooke Nelson, the Huskies had bases loaded with only one out. None of these runners would score as third-year infielder Kinsey Fiedler and first-year Jadyn Glab recorded the final outs of the inning.

A strikeout by third-year outfiler Riley Owens and two ground outs by fourth-year utility player Ava Bieneman and third-year infielder Haley Wallace led to a quick first inning for the Ramblers. 

The Ramblers and the Huskies had a defensive battle for three more innings until the top of the fourth when the Huskies began to break away.

In the top of the fourth, Fiedler singled through the right side landing on first base and stole second and third. Glab, who initially reached first on an error by Wallace at shortstop, advanced to second following another error from third-year center-fielder Teagan Sopczak. 

The two errors allowed Fiedler to score for the first run of the game. The Huskies ended the inning up 7-0 with two stolen bases and six hits.

In the top of the fifth, second-year Washington utility player Alana Johnson singled through the right side and subsequently stole second. Fourth-year outfielder Avery Hobson stole second after being walked by first-year pitcher Maddy Hickey. 

The pair went on to steal two more bases each, bringing Johnson home and putting Hobson on third until she was brought in by first-year utility player Jing Gardner for an RBI.

With the Ramblers unable to score in the bottom of the fifth, the mercy rule kicked in and the Huskies won the game 9-0. 

University of South Florida – Feb. 23

The Ramblers began the game with singles from Owens and Bieneman. The two stood at second and third following a sacrifice bunt by Wallace. They were left stranded after first-year infielder Liz Sedakis struck out to end the inning. 

In the bottom of the first, a walk by second-year South Florida utility player Alex Wilkes was the only time a Bull reached base as the Ramblers secured three quick outs with two strikeouts of fourth-year outfielder Bailey Drapola and second-year utility player Alexa Galligani in addition to a fly ball to Sopczak from fourth-year utility player Marissa Trivelpiece.

For five more innings, strong defensive efforts by both teams prevented much action until the bottom of the sixth.

Galligani started the Bulls off with a double to left center followed by a single to left field from second-year outfielder Olivia Elliott, allowing Galligani to advance to third. Galligani scored on a sacrifice fly to the infield by Trivelpiece, putting the Bulls up 1-0.

A Sedakis double to left field in the top of the seventh started the Ramblers off. A sacrifice bunt by fourth-year infielder Hannah Nalley brought Sedakis to third with only one out. First-year infielder Nat Lesnicki singled to the right side, bringing Sedakis home for the Ramblers’ only run. 

With it all tied up at 1-1, the Ramblers and the Bulls went to an extra inning. Gregus — on second — advanced to third on a ground out by Sopczak. Second-year outfielder Sierra Sass singled to shortstop and went on to steal second, putting two Ramblers in scoring position. The Ramblers were unable to capitalize after two final outs by Bieneman and Wallace.

The Bulls finished the game at 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth after Elliott singled to center field, allowing redshirt fourth-year outfielder Jordyn Kadlub to score. 

Oklahoma State University – Feb. 24

The Ramblers and Cowgirls held each other to no more than four at bats in a frame for the first three innings. In the top of the fourth, the Cowgirls’ momentum started to pick up.

Second-year Oklahoma State outfielder Claire Timm started it off with a single to center field. She stole second and advanced to third on an error by Gregus. Fourth-year catcher Caroline Wang hit a ground out that was enough to bring Timm across home plate, putting the Cowgirls up 1-0 with two outs. 

Redshirt second-year Cowgirl infielder Micaela Wark hit a double to left center, putting her in scoring position. First-year Oklahoma State infielder Rosie Davis took the plate and hit a single to left field allowing Wark to score at 2-0.

Oklahoma State had an eventful top of the fifth when second-year infielder Lexi McDonald hit a three-run home run to right center to put the Cowgirls up 5-0. 

Gregus singled down the infield line for the only Loyola hit of the game. Gregus wasn’t able to score before the final out by Sass, securing the Oklahoma State win at 6-0. 

Yale University – Feb. 24

The Yale Bulldogs recorded the first hit of the game in the bottom of the second from first-year catcher Isabella Fortini with a single up the middle. Fourth-year infielder Carolyn Skotz followed her up with another single, this time to left field. Though Fortini would make it to third, the Bulldogs’ final out by first-year shortstop Elena Ohe left her on base.

The Ramblers started the second inning off strong with a solo home run from fourth-year infielder Sydney Barnett, putting the Ramblers up 1-0.

Yale had a similar start in the second with a solo home run scored by fourth-year infielder Willa Ferrer. The Bulldogs scored two additional runs by fourth-year utility player Carmen Muscolina and Fortini, putting Yale up 3-1.

After stealing second in the bottom of the fourth on a wild pitch, Fortini advanced to third and later scored following a single to right field from third-year infielder Lauren Perren.

In the bottom of the sixth, second-year infielder Libby Peoples singled up the middle, leading to two back-to-back doubles by Perren and Ohe. The doubles added two more runs for the Bulldogs from Perren and Peoples. Ohe also went on to score following a single by Ferrer. 

Loyola’s offense exploded in the top of the seventh, posting six runs in the inning by Nalley, Sopczak, Lesnicki, Bieneman, Owens and fourth-year outfielder Sophia Remsik on only three hits. Nalley would make her way back to scoring position at second, but the final out by Wallace called the game for Yale at 8-7.

University of Pittsburgh – Feb. 25

The Ramblers began the top of the second with Barnett on first following an error by second-year Pittsburgh outfielder Alena Ball in right field. She advanced to second on an Owens single hit down the infield line.

The two advanced to second and third after Sedakis was hit by a pitch. Gregus singled and advanced to second on a throw that brought Owens and Barnett across home plate for a 2-0 lead with Sedakis at third. Sedakis scored after Sopczak’s ground out to third.

The Ramblers picked up momentum with back-to-back singles by Sopczak and Bieneman. The single from Sopczak through the left side brought Owens home from second. A single from Bieneman put Sopczak on second and Remsik on third, loading the bases. None of the Ramblers were able to make it home before the final out of the inning as Wallace flew out to the shortstop. 

The field remained quiet until the top of the sixth when the Ramblers continued to pull away. The Ramblers recorded three hits in a row, including a double by Sopczak. With all bases occupied by Sass, Sopczak and first-year outfielder Katie Mitchell, a grand slam from Wallace brought in the final four runs for the Ramblers. 

With three quick outs by the Panthers in the seventh, the Ramblers secured their only win of the tournament 8-0.

Featured image courtesy of Steve Woltmann | Loyola Athetics