Softball Takes Two of Three in Home Opener Against George Mason

For the first time this season, the Loyola softball team took to the diamond at Loyola Softball Park to take on the George Mason University Patriots March 23-24 in their home opener. The teams went into extra innings in two of the three games played during the weekend.

Game One – March 23

In the first game of the weekend, action picked up in the top of the third inning. Fifth-year George Mason infielder Rachel Warrens homered down the foul line, putting the Patriots up 1-0. 

In the top of the sixth, fourth-year George Mason infielder Marlaina Bozek walked and later advanced to second after a ground out by fifth-year infielder Maddy Myers. A single by second-year Patriot outfielder Elyssa DeRosa proved enough to bring Bozek home for a 2-0 Patriot lead.

The Ramblers caught fire in the bottom of the sixth, beginning with a walk by fourth-year outfielder Teagan Sopczak. A single by third-year outfielder Riley Owens put Sopczak in scoring position.

First-year infielder Liz Sedakis reached first base after a fielder’s choice, loading the bases with no outs. Fourth-year infielder Jocelyn Currie hit into a double play that left her and Sedakis out but brought Sopczak home for the first Rambler run of the game. 

George Mason answered in the top of the seventh with another home run from second-year catcher Logan Pickford, putting the Patriots up 3-1.

Sedakis, on base after a walk, advanced to second following a single by fourth-year outfielder Ava Bieneman. The two of them advanced to second and third after a fly ball out to center-field from third-year infielder Haley Wallace. 

With two outs, Sopczak walked,  bringing Owens to the plate with the bases loaded. She hit a triple to send Sopczak, Bieneman and Sedakis home, delivering a 4-3 victory for Loyola.

Game Two – March 23

George Mason started the top of the first with a double down the infield line from Warrens. With Bozek on first after being walked, a home run by Myers brought all three across home plate for an early 3-0 lead. 

A single from Bieneman put Owens in scoring position after being walked. Lesnicki reached first on a fielder’s choice which allowed Owens to advance to third and left Bieneman out at second. Lesnicki subsequently stole second, putting two runners in scoring position. A home run by fourth-year infielder Sydney Barnett tied the game at 3-3. 

In the top of the second, the Patriots scored five runs on five hits, putting them up 8-3. 

The Ramblers began a rally attempt in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI triple from Barnett before a single from Sedakis brought another run home. With Barnett on third, Wallace singled, allowing her to cross home plate and cutting the Patriot lead to 8-5. 

After three quick outs by the Patriots in the top of the sixth, the Ramblers caught fire once again beginning with a double from Sedakis, who would later steal third. 

Second-year outfielder Sierra Sass — pinch running for third-year infielder Bella Crimaldi — stole second and Sedakis stole home, putting another run on the board. Sass came home following a bunt from Bieneman as the Ramblers trailed by one heading into the seventh. 

The Ramblers scored two more runs from Wallace and first-year outfielder Katie Mitchell to tie it in the bottom of the seventh, sending the teams to extra innings.

A single and two back-to-back doubles allowed three additional runs, putting the Patriots back in the lead at 12-9. The Ramblers were unable to produce any runs in the bottom of the eighth, cementing the win for George Mason. 

Game Three – March 24

With George Mason’s DeRosa on first, a home run by Patriot fourth-year outfielder Sydney Bales brought the pair in for a quick 2-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the third, Loyola started with a double to left center by fourth-year infielder Jocelyn Currie. A single from Owens brought Currie to third with one out. Currie stole home as Owens stole second, scoring the first Rambler run of the game. With the bases loaded after a Bieneman single and a Lesnicki walk, a second walk by Wallace brought Owens in for a 2-2 tie.

In the bottom of the fifth with Bieneman on third, Barnett hit a home run and brought the two across home plate for Loyola’s first lead of the day. Sopczak hit the second home run of the inning shortly after, putting the Ramblers at 5-2.

In the top of the sixth and seventh innings, the Patriots scored three runs to tie it at five, leading to extra innings for the second time during the weekend. 

In the bottom of the eighth, Sopczak singled to shortstop to open the inning. After a walk, Sopczak made her way to second as Sedakis took first. A ground out to second by Crimaldi led Sedakis and Sopczak to scoring position. A Currie single to center field proved enough for Sopczak to come home, leading the Ramblers to a 6-5 win, marking first-year utility player Maddy Hickey’s first win as a pitcher. 

The Ramblers will head to Dayton, Ohio March 29-30 to play in three games against the University of Dayton Flyers. Games will begin at 11 a.m. both days.

Featured image by Megan Dunn | The Phoenix