Softball Continues Tournament Drought at Wolfpack Classic

Loyola softball traveled to Raleigh, N.C. to compete in North Carolina State University’s Wolfpack Classic Feb. 27-March 1. The Ramblers won their first two games before losing the remaining three. 

Feb. 27 vs. University of Toledo

Friday’s action for the Ramblers started in the first inning when first-year outfielder Megan Piotrowski crossed home plate off a hit by first-year infielder and pitcher Anna Kiel. Redshirt second-year infielder Liz Sedakis stole home on the next play to give the Ramblers an early 2-1 lead. 

Toledo responded in the second inning when Rockets second-year infielder Alexis Shepherd singled to center field, and third-year outfielder Eliza Maloney crossed home plate. 

In the third inning, Sedakis stole home to extend the Ramblers’ lead. Four innings later, a home run by Toledo’s first-year outfielder Mak Sitarski brought in runs from her and third-year catcher Emma Ody. The Ramblers fought back in the seventh inning with a homer by Sedakis to bring her and Piotrowski across the plate for a 5-3 Rambler victory. 

Feb. 27 vs. Lehigh University

Loyola continued their momentum going into their second game. In the first inning, a Sedakis single to left field brought  home second-year infielder and outfielder Alli Pawlowicz. The Mountain Hawks responded when third-year infielder Holly Lovett was walked, and first-year outfielder Megan Lodge crossed the plate to tie the game at one. 

In the third inning, graduate catcher and first baseman Adelina Staden singled to right field and brought in Piotrowski and third-year infielder Nat Lesnicki. Sedakis scored on second-year outfielder Averi Vander Woude’s grounder to third base, putting the Ramblers up 4-1. 

A three-run home run from Lehigh second-year infielder Kelly Fricker in the fourth inning brought her, second-year outfielder Helen Woloshyn and first-year utility player Maia D’Amico across the plate to tie the game at four. 

Mountain Hawks fourth-year catcher and utility player Sydney Parlett hit a home run to center field the next inning, bringing her and Lodge in to score. The Ramblers attempted to catch up in the sixth, after redshirt third-year catcher Abbie Gregus crossed home on a single to left field from second-year first and third baseman Addyson Borg.

In the seventh inning, Sedakis’ double to left center allowed Piotrowski to cross home plate, and Vander Woude’s single to right field brought first-year outfielder Alexis Hansen in for a run to secure the 7-6 Rambler win. 

Feb. 28 vs. Lehigh University

Saturday’s action didn’t heat up for the Mountain Hawks until the third inning when Fricker singled, and Woloshyn crossed the plate. Play was slow again until the seventh inning, when Sedakis scored on Vander Woude’s double to center field, finally getting the Ramblers on the board.

Lodge’s home run to center field in the bottom of the seventh inning secured the 2-1 Lehigh victory. 

Feb. 28 vs. North Carolina State University

The Ramblers’ second game of the day picked up in the second inning when Pawlowicz homered to left field to bring her and Borg across the plate for an early 2-0 lead. 

Wolfpack fourth-year outfielder Maia Townsend singled to left field in the third inning and brought fourth-year utility player Hannah Church home for a run. Townsend scored on the next play with a double to center field from first-year infielder Carly Short. 

In the fourth inning, Church hit a home run to left field, bringing in herself and Wolfpack second-year infielder Taryn Massey. Gregus’ throwing error in the next inning brought Wolfpack third-year outfielder Sarah Johnson across the plate to extend North Carolina State’s lead 5-2. 

Wolfpack first-year infielder Lily Livingston homered to left field to bring herself and second-year infielder Kendall Simmers in for two runs. Johnson’s single in the sixth inning brought Wolfpack fourth-year outfielder Gabi Wilson across the plate to definitively secure the 8-2 North Carolina win. 

March 1 vs. North Carolina State University

Loyola started their final game of the weekend in the second inning with a Vander Woude run off a grounder by second-year infielder Kayci Rigby. 

Play was slow until the fourth inning when Livingston scored on an infield error. Massey singled to left center, which brought Church across the plate. Massey singled to the pitcher, allowing Wolfpack first-year utility player Morgen Talley to run home before Massey scored on a fielding error by the shortstop on the next play, bringing North Carolina State to a 4-1 lead. 

Church scored in the fifth inning off a single by Massey. Simmers’ home run to center field in the sixth inning brought her, Townsend and Johnson across the plate, clinching the 8-1 victory for North Carolina State. 

The Ramblers travel to Ohio to start conference play against the University of Dayton March 8-9. The first game is scheduled for 11 a.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.