Softball Limps Out of Fonesca Memorial Tournament

The Loyola softball team traveled to Tampa, Fla. Feb. 14-16 to compete in the Fonseca Memorial Tournament at the University of South Florida. The Ramblers first matchup against St. John’s University was their only win in five games played.

Feb. 14 vs. St. John’s

Friday’s action between the Ramblers and St. John’s began in the fourth inning when graduate catcher Celia Macari singled through the right side, bringing home third-year infielder Cassidy Stouffer for a 1-0 Red Storm lead.

The Ramblers picked up some momentum in the bottom of the seventh inning after a single to right field by first-year infielder Abby Johnson brought home first-year outfielder Alli Pawlowicz to tie it 1-1. Johnson continued her advancement to second before an error in right field from St. John’s fourth-year infielder Anese Thompson moved her to third.

On a full count, fourth-year infielder Haley Wallace singled to centerfield, bringing in Johnson for a 2-1 walkoff win. 

Feb. 14 vs. South Florida

The University of South Florida Bulls took an early lead in the first inning when a single up the middle by graduate catcher Josie Foreman brought home third-year outfielder Olivia Elliott. 

Graduate South Florida infielder Alanah Rivera continued the momentum with a double, allowing Foreman and third-year utility player Jocelyn Wilkes to score. First-year utility player Karhys Pierce hit her own RBI double to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Ramblers attempted to claw back in the fourth after second-year infielder Nat Lesnicki came home for a 4-1 game after a triple by Pawlowicz. 

South Florida responded in the bottom of the same inning, starting with an Elliot RBI and an RBI double by third-year outfielder Alexa Galligani — who went on to score a run for the Bulls herself after a fielding error from first-year infielder Abby Johnson. 

A two-run single from the Bulls’ third-year utility player Camille Ortiz-Martinez brought the Bulls’ lead to 9-1, invoking the mercy rule after five innings. 

Feb. 15 vs. Penn State

Action between the Nittany Lions and the Ramblers began with a second-inning home run by fourth-year Penn State outfielder Haylie Brunson. Penn State increased the lead to 2-0 after fourth-year utility player Maddie Gordon came home on a sacrifice fly by second-year outfielder Michela Barbanente.

Lesnicki responded in the third with an RBI double to bring home Wallace and bring the Ramblers within one. 

The Nittany Lions began an explosive third inning with a two-run double down the right field line. Gordon got back in the action with an RBI double to right field for a 5-1 lead. 

Barbanete hit another two-run double for the Nittany Lions to continue the third, followed by RBI hits from graduate Penn State infielder Meagan Ricks and first-year outfielder Natalie Lieto. Two Rambler errors allowed two more Penn State runners home, as the Ramblers faced a 12-1 deficit.

Despite a Pawlowicz triple to bring home fourth-year infielder Bella Crimaldi, the fifth inning ended 12-2, prompting the second-straight mercy rule finish for the Ramblers.

Feb. 15 vs. South Florida

In the second meeting between the Bulls and the Ramblers, South Florida got started early when Elliot scored on a passed ball.

Loyola tied the game in the second when second-year outfielder Katie Mitchell made it home following a throwing error from Martinez at the plate. 

South Florida regained control in the bottom of the inning with a three-run triple from Galligani, who touched home base after a single from Wilkes and put the score at 5-1 in favor of the Bulls. 

In the third inning, an RBI ground-out by third-year infielder Kathy Garcia-Soto extended the Bulls’ lead to five. 

For the third time in the weekend, the Ramblers were mercy-ruled in the fifth after the Bulls exploded for a seven-run fourth inning and ended the game with a 13-1 win over Loyola.

Feb. 16 vs. St. Johns

Scoring in the second game between Loyola and St. John’s kicked in the third inning after Red Storm fourth-year utility player Natalie Castro blasted a solo home run over the left field wall. 

In the fourth, a wild pitch by fourth-year pitcher Peyton Pepkowski brought Stouffer home to make it 2-0. 

The Red Storm kept momentum going in the fifth inning as fourth-year Rambler Andie Broniewicz allowed a walk on a throwing error and gave up two more runs. 

A single from fourth-year infielder London Jarrard in the fifth capped the Red Storm’s offensive push by bringing third-year outfielder Jess Bianco home for a 5-0 lead.

Loyola attempted to answer back to the Red Storm with a Rigby single to center field, which brought home Crimaldi for the final run of the game and a Rambler 5-1 loss. 

Next up on the slate, the Ramblers will travel to Greenville, N.C. to play in the Pirate Invitational hosted by East Carolina University Feb. 21-23. The Ramblers’ first game will be against Boston College Feb. 21, with the first pitch set for 11:30 a.m.