Softball Drops Three Games at Pirate Invite

The Loyola softball team traveled east to Greenville, N.C. to compete in the Pirate Invitational Feb 21-23 at East Carolina University. Due to inclement weather in the area, the Ramblers’ first two games of the tournament were canceled and they resumed play the following day.  

Feb. 22 vs. Boston College

In their first matchup against the Boston College Eagles, the Ramblers grabbed an early lead in the first inning when fourth-year infielder Bella Crimaldi hit an RBI single to bring home third-year outfielder Sierra Sass. A ground out by fourth-year outfielder Riley Owens brought home second-year infielder Nat Lesnicki to extend the lead to 2-0. 

In the third inning, Owens ripped a single, which brought home fourth-year infielder Haley Wallace. Second-year outfielder Katie Mitchell hit a single of her own to bring in Lesnicki, giving Loyola a commanding 4-0 lead.

Boston College eventually got on the board in the bottom of the third after a sacrifice bunt brought in fourth-year Eagle outfielder Kali Case.  

In the fifth, a single to right field from first-year infielder Addyson Borg allowed Owens to come home, bringing in the Ramblers’ last run of the game. 

The Eagles regained momentum in the bottom of the seventh after a fielder’s choice RBI from fourth-year outfielder Darien McDonough. A following single by fourth-year utility player Hannah Slike brought in third-year Boston College utility player Janis Espinoza to shrink the 5-3 lead. 

A three-RBI double to right field from third-year Eagle infielder Meghan Schouten sealed a 6-5 walk-off victory for the Eagles, giving the Ramblers their first loss in Greenville. 

Feb. 22 vs. Eastern Carolina University

Loyola’s early scoring trend continued after a ground out by Lesnicki brought Sass in for the first run. 

ECU tied things up at one at the end of the first inning after a double to center field by fourth-year Logan Sutton brought home graduate midfielder Morgan Johnson. 

The Pirates scored after a Crimaldi throwing error allowed third-year outfielder Emma Jackson to scamper home for a 2-1 lead. Despite graduate catcher Annie Kate Dalton being caught while attempting to steal second, Johnson crossed home plate again for a 3-1 Pirate lead.

Loyola got back onto the board in the third inning when first-year utility player Abby Johnson scored on a sacrifice fly to bring the Ramblers within one. 

The Ramblers kept rolling as Lesnicki singled to left center to bring home Sass, while a two-RBI single from Owens to center field brought home Lesnicki and first-year outfielder Averi vander Woude for a 5-3 lead.

The Pirates answered with homers in the bottom of the third and fourth innings from redshirt second-year ECU infielder Hailey Massaro and Johnson, putting them up one at 6-5.

A two-RBI double from Massaro to continue the fourth put the Pirates up 8-5 with three innings to play.

After two straight throwing errors from Wallace and Sass, Sutton found her way home a second time. A sacrifice fly to right field from third-year infielder Hailey Geijer brought in Massaro for the Pirates’ final run of the game, securing a 10-5 win over the Ramblers. 

Feb. 23 vs. Canisius

After seven scoreless innings, Canisius managed to break away in the eighth following an RBI by second-year Golden Griffin outfielder Ella Johel.

With the bases loaded, first-year Canisius outfielder Tabitha Von Kolen walked. A fielder’s choice single allowed fourth-year outfielder Alyssa Cloutier to make her way across home plate, putting the Golden Griffins up 2-0. A two-RBI double down the infield line by third-year infielder Bailey Alatorre brought in Johel and Cloutier for a 4-0 lead.

Loyola attempted a comeback in the bottom of the inning, with an initial RBI double down the right field line from first-year infielder Skyler Crocker that brought in second-year outfielder Katie Mitchell for a 4-1 score.

A Sass RBI single brought in Crocker to close the gap to two, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback. 

Next up, the Ramblers travel to Eugene, Ore. to compete in the Oregon Classic, hosted by the University of Oregon Feb. 28 to March 2. Loyola’s first matchup will be against the University of San Diego Feb. 28, with the first pitch set for 12 p.m.