Softball Continues Series Winning Streak with Sweep of Saint Joseph’s

Loyola Softball traveled to The City of Brotherly Love, where they won their second series in a row with a three-game sweep of Saint Joseph’s University April 3-4. On the mound, first-year pitcher Anna Kiel and third-year utility player Maddy Hickey earned the win for the Ramblers with Kiel pitching an 11-inning game.  

The Ramblers took an early lead in the top of the first when second-year outfielder Averi Vander Woude reached first on an infield error and advanced to second on a pop-up from first-year outfielder Megan Piotrowski. Third-year infielder Nat Lesnicki sent a double down the left field line, and Vander Woude notched the first run. 

Vander Woude scored her second run of the game in the top of the third after hitting a single into left field and advancing on a Piotrowski bunt. With another double to the left from Lesnicki, Vander Woude crossed the plate. 

Saint Joseph’s promptly responded in the bottom of the inning with three runs of their own. Third-year utility player Morgan Lester started the scoring for the Hawks after being walked and advancing on singles from first-year infielder Elyssa Hasapis and fourth-year infielder Meghan Sinkus. With a fielding error from Lesnicki at first base, third-year outfielder Julia Shearer reached first, bringing Lester home and allowing the runners to advance. 

Fourth-year outfielder Riley York singled to the shortstop and advanced to second on a passed ball. A throwing error from redshirt second-year second baseman Liz Sedakis allowed Hasapis and Sinkus to score consecutive unearned runs to take the lead 3-2. 

In the following inning, the Hawks widened the lead when the first at-bat from first-year infielder Grace Brown sent a double to right field. With a sacrifice bunt from Lester, Brown advanced to third and a fly out from Sinkus allowed Brown to add the fourth run to the board. 

The Ramblers battled in the top of the fifth to tie the game at four. Fourth-year outfielder Sierra Sass singled to third and advanced on a bunt from Vander Woude. Piotrowski and Lesnicki both grounded out, allowing Sass to reach home. To close out the inning, Sedakis hit a single to bring in Vander Woude. 

Brown added the fifth and final run for the Hawks when she was hit by a pitch, making it to first, and scoring on a double to right field from Lester. 

Loyola secured the first win of the series in the top of the seventh by scoring three more runs. Sass brought in the first run after sending a double down the infield and advancing to third on a passed ball. With a fly out from Vander Woude, Sass crossed the plate. 

With Lesnicki on first from a single to center field, Sedakis stepped up to the plate to send a two run homer into left field, taking the game 7-5. 

Game two of Friday’s doubleheader stretched into extra innings until the Ramblers broke the stalemate in the 11th inning. Despite the defensive battle, Loyola won the game 4-2. 

The Hawks started up the scoring in the bottom of the first after Sinkus walked and stole second. With an error from Loyola’s redshirt third-year catcher Abbie Gregus, Sinkus advanced and was brought in on a sacrifice bunt from Shearer. 

In the third, first-year utility player Alivia Heers made it to first with a single to second and advanced to second following a fielding error from second-year third-baseman Addyson Borg. After Brown walked, and Lester was hit by a pitch, Heers scored unearned, taking the lead 2-0. 

The Ramblers responded with their next at-bat in the top of the fourth. Lesnicki reached first on a fielding error from Saint Joseph’s redshirt second-year first-baseman Haley McMenamin. After advancing on a single from Sedakis, Lesnicki scored Loyola’s first run unearned on the throw. 

Sass tied it at two in the sixth after sending a single into left field and advancing on a groundout from first-year outfielder Alexis Hansen. After Lesnicki walked and a Sedakis single to center field, Sass made it home. 

Both teams held strong defensively, with neither team able to score a run until the 11th inning. In the top, Vander Woude singled to the left and advanced to second after Hansen singled with a bunt. Lesnicki hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, and after a fielding error from the Hawks fourth-year pitcher Taylor Trowbridge, Vander Woude scored unearned. 

To close out the inning, Hansen added the fourth and final run to the board after graduate catcher Adelina Staden walked. The Ramblers finished game two with a 4-2 win over the Hawks. 

In the final game of the series against Saint Joseph’s, Vander Woude was quick to add the first run to the board for the Ramblers. After sending a single to the pitcher, Vander Woude made it to first and advanced on a lineout from Lesnicki and a Sedakis single. With Sedakis stealing second on the throw, Vander Woude managed to steal home. 

With no action in the following two innings, Sedakis notched the second run in the top of the fourth. After being walked, Sedakis advanced to second on a passed ball and reached third on a fly out from second-year infielder Alli Pawlowicz. An error from the Hawks’ infield, Sedakis scored unearned to take the lead 2-0. 

The Ramblers secured the series sweep in the top of the fifth when Hansen, Sass, Vander Woude, Croker and Pawlowicz all notched runs. With Gregus first at bat, she singled to the right, and Hansen stepped in as a pinch runner. Hansen then stole second and advanced to third after a fielding error from Hawks’ fourth-year pitcher Jules Scogna. During the same error, Sass reached first. 

Vander Woude stepped up to send in a sacrifice bunt and reached first on a fielder’s choice, allowing Hansen to score and Sass to advance to third. 

During a Lesnicki at-bat, Vander Woude stole second, and when Lesnicki singled to left field, Sass crossed the plate with Vander Woude on her heels to score consecutive runs. 

Croker stepped in as a pinch runner for Lesnicki and advanced to second on a lineout from Sedakis. With a Pawlowicz double to the right, Croker was brought in to take the lead 6-0. The Hawks then made a pitching switch with first-year pitcher Ava Farina in for Scogna. 

With Pawlowicz on second, Patterson hit a single through center field and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Following a flyout from second-year infielder Abby Johnson, Pawlowicz scored the seventh run unearned with Saint Joseph still at zero. 

In the bottom of the sixth, the Hawks were able to score their first two runs of the game. Redshirt second-year utility player Kasi Loser pinch hit for Shearer and singled to center field. Brown was walked, and a double into the infield from redshirt third-year utility player Jenna Currie allowed both Loser and Brown to make it home. 

Peterson was first to bat for the Hawks in the bottom of the seventh and knocked one out of the park to add a third run to the board. Next up, Hasapis hit a double to the left and advanced on a wild pitch. With a groundout to shortstop from York, Hasapis scored to close out the game 7-4. 

Following the series sweep with Kiel on the mound for two of the wins, head coach Alicia Abbott credited not just the team but specifically the first-year pitcher for her role in the successful weekend. 

“We couldn’t be prouder of the way this group competed all weekend,” Abbott said. “It was a true test of toughness between long days, extra innings and a lot of pressure situations. Our team never backed down. [Kiel] was outstanding for us, as a freshman to step into those moments and come away with two wins says a lot about her composure and confidence.” 

The Ramblers will remain on the road to travel to Madison, Wisconsin where they are set to match up against the University of Wisconsin April 8 at 5 p.m. The game can be streamed on the B1G+ Network.