Loyola Defeats DePaul in Red Line Rivalry

The Loyola softball team pulled off a tight 2-0 victory after taking a trip south on the Red Line to compete against Chicago rival DePaul University at Cacciatore Stadium for a midweek matchup March 26.

The Ramblers started on a strong note with third-year outfielder Sierra Sass immediately singling in the game’s first at-bat. Fourth-year infielder Haley Wallace stepped to the plate next, hitting a sacrifice bunt to advance Sass — who made it all the way to third — as second-year infielder Nat Lesnicki came to the plate. 

Following an error from DePaul third-year infielder Bibiana Rodriguez, Sass crossed home plate for the first run of the game to put Loyola up 1-0.

Second-year utility player Maddy Hickey was hit by a pitch from DePaul first-year pitcher Hannah Messer, and fourth-year outfielder Riley Owens was walked to load the bases for the Ramblers with one out remaining. 

Next up was first-year infielder Alli Pawlowicz, who struck out swinging and ended the inning without bringing in any more Ramblers. 

It was largely three up, three down for both teams from the third through fifth inning following a series of strikeouts, fly outs, line outs and pop ups — with the sole exception of Sass making it to third after an error in the fifth inning. 

Loyola ended the scoreless pattern with a Lesnicki double to center field in the sixth and was replaced by pinch runner second-year outfielder Katie Mitchell. Mitchell then stole third with just one out. 

A Hickey RBI single to center field brought in Mitchell for the second run of the game, extending the Loyola lead to 2-0. 

An Owens walk late in the sixth put Hickey back in scoring position, but the Ramblers found no success after outs by first-year infielder Kayci Rigby and first-year infielder Addyson Borg. 

In the top of the seventh, first-year utility player Abby Johnson pinch-hit for first-year outfielder Averi Vander Woode, as back-to-back pop-ups from Vander Woude and Sass led to two quick outs. Wallace was walked but was unable to score as a Lesnicki line out led to the Ramblers final out of the day. 

In the bottom of the seventh, first-year Blue Demon catcher Zoe Levine doubled to center field with no outs on the board, but the Blue Demons were unable to convert any runs. Fourth-year Blue Demon infielder Baylee Cosgrove logged the final out of the game, securing the Ramblers’ 2-0 victory.

In the win, fourth-year pitcher Peyton Pepkowski pitched all seven innings, recording seven strikeouts against 28 batters faced. Pekowski now holds a 5-6 win-loss record in games pitched this season.

Next up, the Ramblers will head back home to Hoyne Field, where they take on the University of Rhode Island in a weekend matchup March 29-30. The games can be streamed on ESPN+ and begin at 12 p.m. each day.