Softball goes 2-3 at SIUE Cougar Invitational

The Ramblers traveled to Edwardsville March 1-3 to participate in the SIUE Cougar Invitational hosted by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

St. Thomas University (March 1)

Loyola started strong against the Tommies with a single to right center by third-year infielder Haley Wallace. An RBI double by fourth-year infielder Sydney Barnett brought Wallace in for a quick one-run lead. 

First-year infielder Nat Lesnicki reached on a fielding error by third-year Tommies infielder Cassidy Carby and Barnett advanced to third. Lesnicki stole second, putting two Ramblers in scoring position, though they were left on base following the final out from second-year catcher Abbie Gregus. 

In the bottom of the first, the Tommies started out with a triple to left field by second-year outfielder Avery Wukawitz. Wukawitz failed to make it home before the final out as third-year pitcher Ella Cook flew out to shortstop.

A double by second-year Tommie infielder Abbi Stierlen to left field in the bottom of the second put her in scoring position. Stierlen advanced to third but was left on base after first-year Tommie utility player Kyllie Weingart fouled out to third. 

In the top of the third, Barnett doubled to left field which brought Wallace home from first, bringing the Ramblers to 2-0. Gregus singled down the right field line to start the top of the fourth.

With Remsik, who was pinch-running for Gregus, and first-year infielder Liz Sedakis on second and third, fourth-year infielder Hannah Nalley walked. A sacrifice fly from fourth-year outfielder Teagan Sopczak brought Remsik home to put the Ramblers up 3-0. 

Third-year Tommies infielder Laken Lienhard hit a single to start the bottom of the fourth. She advanced to second after a walk from second-year St. Thomas infielder Abbi Stierlen. Third-year St. Thomas pitcher Christina Crawford homered to center field, bringing all three home to tie the game.

After two quiet innings for both teams, Crawford homered to center field for the second time to put the Tommies up 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, securing the win for St. Thomas. 

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (March 1)

The top of the first was quiet for the Ramblers until fourth-year outfielder and former SIUE Cougar Ava Bieneman singled through the left side. Bieneman advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from third-year outfielder Riley Owens but was left on base as Barnett struck out looking.

The Cougars had a similar start with a single from third-year infielder Paige Rocha to center field. Rocha advanced to second after a ground out by third-year outfielder Lauryn Yslava. A fielding error by Barnett allowed third-year SIUE catcher Piper Montgomery to reach first and Rocha to score. 

With first-year Cougar infielder Jenna Herron on first and Montgomery on second, first-year Cougar catcher Harley Limberger reached first and advanced to second on a throwing error by Nalley. Herron and Montgomnery both scored after an error by Bieneman in right field before a  single from third-year SIUE infielder Madison Kearns brought Limberger home, putting the Cougars up 4-0. 

Quick outs followed for the Ramblers and the Cougars until Wallace got the momentum starting for Loyola again with a double to left field. Shortly after, Lesnicki singled up the middle, bringing Wallace home for the only Rambler run of the game.

In the top of the seventh, first-year outfielder Katie Mitchell — pinch-hitting for Gregus — was walked ,though nothing would come of it as the Cougars closed out a 4-1 win. 

Creighton University (March 2)

The Bluejays got started early in the top of the first when fourth-year outfielder Emma Rosonke reached first on a fielding error by Wallace at shortstop. 

Fourth-year Creighton infielder Alyssa Gappa walked after being hit by a pitch. A single to right field by fourth-year Bluejay infielder Madeline Vejvoda put Gappa on second and allowed Rosonke to score. 

Both teams went quiet until the top of the fifth when first-year Bluejay infielder Ashten Pierson hit a single through the left side. Pierson later stole second, putting her in scoring position. Second-year Creighton catcher Lily West drove Pierson in with a single to right field. 

West later advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored following a fielding error from Wallace at shortstop that also allowed Rosonke to reach first. The Bluejays scored two more runs in the inning after a Vejoda single brought fourth-year catcher Elly Beeson and second-year outfielder Mikayla Chairez across the plate. 

Fourth-year pitcher Bailey Johnson took over the mound for the Ramblers in the middle of the inning, replacing first-year pitcher Maddy Hickey. Second-year outfielder Ella Dalton singled to right center and subsequently stole second base. Dalton and Davis advanced to third and second after a single from second-year infielder Ensley Frame.

Dalton scored following a Pierson single and Davis made it home after a sacrifice fly to center field by West, bringing the score to 7-0. 

The Bluejays would light up once again in the top of the seventh starting with a three-run homerun to left field by Potter. The Bluejays scored three more runs from Frame, West and Nielson to end the top of the seventh up 13-0.

The Ramblers attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run by Barnett to left field but were unable to score any additional runs, ending the game with a 13-1 loss.

Illinois State University (March 2)

The Ramblers got started early in the bottom of the first against the Redbirds, beginning with Bienenman being walked by first-year Illinois State pitcher Paige McLeod. Bieneman advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Owens.

Bieneman advanced to third on a throwing error by fourth-year Redbirds infielder Jayden Standish. Barnett reached first on a fielder’s choice and eventually advanced to third as Wallace and Bieneman found their way home, putting the Ramblers up 2-0.

In the top of the second, Standish was walked by third-year pitcher Peyton Pepkowski and advanced to second on a passed ball. First-year Redbird infielder Adisyn Hopkins flew out to center field with Standish advancing to third on the play. She was left on base as first-year infielder Ella Boyer struck out looking for the final out. 

In the top of the third inning, third-year Redbird catcher Bella Wilkerson singled to right field. First-year Illinois State infielder Payton Brown — pinch running for Wilkerson — advanced to second after first-year utility player Julia Larson was walked. 

Third-year Redbird utility player Addison Mashing grounded out to second while Brown and Larson reached second and third. A swinging strikeout from third-year utility player Abby Knight ended the inning.

The Ramblers and Redbirds put up strong defensive efforts for the rest of the game, securing quick outs with neither team allowing any more runs, leaving Loyola with a 2-0 victory. 

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (March 3)

The Ramblers began their second match against the Cougars with a single to center field by Bieneman. Wallace kept the momentum going with a double to left center, putting herself and Bieneman in scoring position. With bases loaded following a Barnett walk, Sopczak homered to left field for a grand slam in the top of the first. 

The Cougars began with a double down the infield line from Herron. Yslava reached base on fielder’s choice as Herron advanced to third. Yslava stole second and Herron scored after a fielding error by Sedakis, bringing the score to 4-1.

Bieneman advanced to second after a Barnett single through the right side to start the third inning. An error from Kearns allowed Barnett to advance to third and Bieneman to cross home plate making it 5-1. 

Yslava scored the second run for the Cougars following a double to left center by Lueke. Montgomery doubled to left field, bringing Lueke home and putting Kearns on third. First-year outfielder Maleah Blomenkamp scored on a hit from third-year infielder Kaylynn Salyars who was tagged out at first. Blomenkamp and third-year outfielder Danielle Shuey went on to score to bring the game to a tie at 5-5. 

With Nalley on second and Remsik on third, Sedakis reached on a fielder’s choice, tallying an RBI as Remsik made her way home, taking the lead for the Ramblers once again at 6-5. 

The back-and-forth continued in the bottom of the fifth with a Herron single down the right field line. Yslava returned to the plate and hit a single before Limberger doubled to left field to tie the game at 6-6 and load the bases for the Cougars with no outs. Limberger scored after a Montgomery single to put the Cougars up 7-6.

A single from Sopczak proved enough to bring Wallace home from second. Barnett remained on third and Sopczak on first as Nalley grounded out to the shortstop for the third out in the top of the sixth. 

Extra innings ensued after the game remained tied at the bottom of the seventh. Bieneman was placed on second to start the eighth and a sacrifice bunt from Wallace sent her to third. 

A sacrifice fly to center field from Barnett brought her home for a 8-7 lead. The Cougars were unable to score any runs in the bottom of the eighth, securing a win for the Ramblers.

Featured image courtesy of Loyola Athletics