Softball Stuns in The Spring Games With Five Game Sweep

Loyola women’s softball bounced back from an 0-5 start, breaking out with five straight wins in a stunning sweep during The Spring Games invitational in the Sunshine State Feb. 13-15.

The Ramblers started the tournament facing off against the University of Southern Mississippi Feb.13. With a late lead, the Ramblers rallied over the Golden Eagles with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the game 3-2.

Game one of the doubleheader didn’t see action until the fifth inning when first-year outfielder Megan Piotrowski stepped up to the plate and singled to left field. Piotrowski then advanced to second on a wild pitch to second-year outfielder Addyson Jones. She took the trip to home when first-year infielder and pitcher Anna Kiel singled down the infield.

Entering the top of the seventh, Southern Mississippi’s second-year outfielder Hannah Christian hit a single down the left field line. She then advanced to third off Golden Eagles’ second-year infielder Madison Johnson’s double to right. Christian scored the first run for the Golden Eagles after second-year pitcher Jolie Hayes singled to shortstop.

As Christian advanced to home, second-year infielder Madison Johnson followed to third and scored on Southern Mississippi’s redshirt second-year catcher Kaycee Bennet’s double, taking the lead 2-1.

The Ramblers promptly responded in the bottom when Piotrowski was walked to first and advanced to second as Jones reached on a throwing error. Second-year outfielder Averi Vander Woude was put in as a pinch runner for Jones and stole second while Piotrowski made it to third on a throwing error.

To take the game back from the Golden Eagles, graduate catcher and first baseman Adelina Staden hit a single up the middle allowing Piotrowski and Vander Woude to score back-to-back runs for Loyola’s 3-2 win.

The final game of the double header was against Alabama State University who took an early lead, but the Ramblers battled their way to a 7-6 win.

The Hornets were quick to score, notching four runs by the end of the first inning. Third-year pitcher Brooke Steinhorst struggled to throw a strike, walking the first three hitters. Alabama State’s graduate outfielder Jaibriel Terrell failed to advance further than first and was caught stealing second. Hornets’ second-year catcher and outfielder Meshayla Pettaway made her way to second and third but was thrown out at home.

With bases loaded, Alabama State’s first-year catcher and first baseman Addison Giles hit a triple, allowing second-year outfielder Ayana Frank, second-year catcher and infielder Talee Sims and third-year outfielder Arianna Cox-Cole to make it home. Giles scored the fourth run off a walk from first-year infielder Kyndra Waldon, giving the Hornets a 4-0 lead.

In the top of the second, Piotrowski gave the Ramblers their first run by reaching first on a fielder’s choice and stealing second. With Jones grounding out and Staden being walked, Piotrowski scored.  

With a walk from fourth-year outfielder Sierra Sass in the third, the Ramblers were down 4-2, but the Hornets widened their lead by one. Frank singled to left, advancing to third on Giles’ double and was brought home when Alabama State’s third-year outfielder and third baseman Gabbie York flew out.

Still trailing behind the Hornets, Piotrowski singled to left and quickly advanced as Jones grounded out and Staden hit a single. Second-year third and first baseman Addyson Borg finally stepped up to the plate to bring home Piotrowski.

Following a stalemate in the fifth and sixth inning, the Ramblers entered the top of the seventh with determination. Borg was first at bat with Sass following as both walked. As Borg advanced to third, Croker stepped in as pinch runner.

With bases loaded, second-year infielder and outfielder Alli Pawlowicz hit a double allowing Sass and Croker to score. Vander Woude, pinch running for Lesnicki, advanced to third and on a Piotrowski single, made it home followed by Pawlowics — taking the lead 7-5.

The Hornets had one more run scored by Cox, but the Ramblers swept day one of the tournament 7-6.

Loyola matched up against Bethune-Cookman University Feb.14 to start off day two’s doubleheader. The Ramblers battled their way to a 6-5 win to keep the Wildcats at bay.

Piotrowski was first at bat and hit a single towards shortstop to reach first. Stepping up to the plate, Lesnicki smashed a homer to right field to bring home the first two runs of the game.

The Wildcats followed up with two of their own in the bottom of the first to tie it at two. The first run came when fourth-year outfielder Emma Bradley-Tse and first-year utility and shortstop Janel Morrisey were walked. Third-year second baseman Jessica Alaan then grounded out allowing advancements to second and third.

With a single to left from redshirt fourth-year catcher Asyiah Gonzalez, Morrisey and Bradley-Tse made it home to close out the inning.

The Ramblers came back with four runs to take the 4-2 lead in the top of the third. Third-year utility player Maddy Hickey started by hitting a single to second and advancing to second on a wild pitch. With a hit to right field from Borg, Hickey advanced, and Piotrowski sent a double down left field to bring them home.

Pawlowicz hit one down the middle and managed to steal second, allowing Piotrowski to move to third. After third-year infielder Liz Sedakis swung one up the middle, they added a final two to the board for Loyola. In turn, the Wildcats scored one when Cypress walked to first, quickly advanced and scored on a catcher error.

The game only saw two more successful runs, both from the Wildcats in the bottom of the fifth. First-year shortstop Arianna Reynolds hit a bomb into left field and first-year outfielder Mia’Lani Mayo secured the final run with Loyola taking the game 6-5.

In the last game of the night, Loyola played a shutout game against Long Island University, ending the game in six innings at 7-0.

Piotrowski opened up the scoring for the Ramblers in the first inning, gaining the run off an error by the catcher. Lesnicki added another one in the third, scoring on a Staden double.

Three more were added to Loyola’s board with Piotrowski, Johnson and Pawlowicz all making it home in the bottom of the fifth. The final two were scored when second-year infielder Kayci Rigby sent a three-base hit down center and took home after Piotrowski sent her own triple to left. Lesnicki sent one to third, allowing Piotrowski to score and limit the Sharks to zero runs.

The Spring Games ended for the Ramblers Feb. 15 in a second matchup against Alabama State University. Loyola finished five for five by battling the Hornets in a 7-4 win.

Bringing in the first run was Piotrowski who reached on an error, stole second and scored off a Lesnicki ground out. The Ramblers carried out three more in the bottom of the second.

With Croker hitting one to left, Kiel sent one in and advanced to second on an infield error allowing Croker to add one to the board. Kiel capitalized off fourth-year catcher Abbie Gregus’ single and made it home. Scoring the third was Piotrowski who reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and reached third on a wild pitch to widen the lead 4-0.

The Hornets saw action in the fourth when Cox-Cole reached on a shortstop error and scored off a double from fourth-year infielder Alana Scott. Loyola responded when Kiel flew out to bring in Vander Woude to score.

Staden scored the final run for the Ramblers, getting on base by reaching on a fielder’s choice and making it home after a fly out from Borg. The Wildcats came back with three runs of their own from third-year outfielder and infielder Jayla Stewart, Pettaway and Cox-Cole, but couldn’t catch up to the Ramblers who finished the tournament with a sweep.

The Ramblers will be on the road again for another five games, heading to the South Alabama Invitational. Their first game is against The University of Tennessee at Martin Feb. 20 at 10 a.m..