Softball was swept under the rug by the University of Dayton April 12-13, losing all three of their games.
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Softball was swept under the rug by the University of Dayton April 12-13, losing all three of their games.
The Loyola softball team returned to Loyola Softball Park April 12-13, losing all three games of Atlantic 10 conference action against the University of Dayton.
Game 1: April 12
The Ramblers got off to a rough start in the first inning when fourth-year infielder Haley Wallace bobbled a grounder by Dayton fourth-year infielder Chloe Wong, allowing fourth-year outfielder Emma Schutter to score.
The next inning, a fly-ball single by Dayton first-year infielder Juliana Gonzalez brought home two more runs for the Flyers, with third-year infielder Molly Grace and first-year catcher and outfielder Ella Holman crossing home plate.
Second-year utility player Maddy Hickey stole a base and crossed home on a home runny from fourth-year infielder Bella Crimaldi, narrowing the Flyers’ lead to two.
An inning later, a sacrifice fly ball from Schutter brought home first-year outfielder Mickie Shively, bumping Dayton’s lead to 5-2.
Three additional innings of play yielded little offense, with the Flyers capturing the first game of the series.
Game 2: April 12
Dayton opened scoring in the second matchup early in the first as fourth-year infielder Maddie Kapsimalis delivered a home run.
Loyola tied it in the third inning when a single to left field by third-year outfielder Sierra Sass brought home first-year infielder and outfielder Alli Pawlowicz. The Ramblers grabbed their first lead of the series after a sacrifice fly by second-year infielder Nat Lesnicki allowed Pawlowicz to cross home.
Offense remained stagnant for the next three innings until the seventh inning.
Wong delivered a single to centerfield to get on base and was brought in to score when Holman cracked a home run over centerfield. The Ramblers were unable to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, earning Dayton their second win of the series 3-2.
Game 3: April 13
On the second day of play, Dayton’s bats started hot in the first inning.
Second-year infielder Kirnan Bailey and Kapsimalis got on base with a walk and a single to leftfield, with Bailey taking the opportunity to steal third base. A Wong double brought in Bailey and Kapsimalis for two runs before second-year catcher Deirdre Flaherty hit a double to left center and Wong added another run to further Dayton’s 3-0 lead.
A third-inning pitching change by Loyola brought new momentum to their defense, as fourth-year pitcher Peyton Pepkowski substituted in for fourth-year pitcher Andie Broniewicz and delivered three strikeouts in a row.
The fifth inning brought in another run for Dayton after Flaherty hit a sacrifice fly to center and Kapsilimas crossed the plate, extending 4-0 lead.
Loyola earned a run back in the sixth inning after Pawlowicz hit a home run — her fifth of the season.
Dayton’s final inning of batting ended with a double to left field by Flaherty and trips across the plate for Kapsimalis and Wong, creating a five-run gap.
With a final inning to score, Wallace brought in fourth-year outfielder Riley Owens with a double to right center. Lesnicki hit a fly ball out of the park to left field, but after review, the ball landed on the left side of the foul line, ending the game with a 6-3 Dayton win.
Head coach Alicia Abbott said offensive play by the Ramblers could’ve been stronger over the weekend.
“I thought offensively, we probably could have attacked early on,” Abbott said. “Probably should have got five or six runs up early, and we didn’t capitalize on that.”
The Ramblers travel north to Evanston for their next game, where they take on North Shore rivals Northwestern University April 16 at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
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