Softball Rambles through Rhode Island with Sweep

Loyola softball traveled to Kingston, R.I. April 11-12, where they carried out a ruthless sweep against the University of Rhode Island. On the Rams turf, the Ramblers went 3-0, with a 4-0 shutout in game one. Earning the wins on the mound stood first-year pitchers Anna Kiel and Katie Geydoshek, as well as third-year pitcher Brooke Steinhorst, leading Loyola to a 12-3 conference standing. 

In game one of the series, the Ramblers dragged out the win, delaying action until the top of the second with second-year infielder Alli Pawlowicz walking to first. When third-year first baseman Addyson Borg grounded out to third, Pawlowicz advanced to second, and from there made it home after redshirt third-year catcher Abbie Gregus singled up the middle. 

The next run didn’t come until the top of the fifth when Loyola added two more to the board. Graduate catcher Adelina Staden started with a walk, and first-year outfielder Alexis Hansen stepped in to pinch run. With a single straight to the mound off a bunt from first-year outfielder Megan Piotrowski, Hansen reached second. Runners advanced when fourth-year outfielder Sierra Sass sent a sacrifice fly to the left field line. 

Hansen crossed the plate when second-year outfielder Averi Vander Woude singled to the mound, also allowing Piotrowski to move up. Third-year infielder Nat Lesnicki sent a single up the right infield to bring in Piotrowski and take the score to 3-0. 

Still holding the Rams at bay, the Ramblers waited until the final inning to secure the win. Vander Woude was first at bat with a walk and advanced when Lesnicki singled into right field. Redshirt second-year infielder Liz Sedakis stepped up to single to the right, bringing in Vander Woude from second base and winning the game in a 4-0 shutout. 

Rhode Island started off game two of the double-header with more determination than in the last, taking an early lead in the bottom of the first. Redshirt second-year infielder Riley Frickleton and fourth-year catcher Kylie Bulinski started action for the Rams with walks. 

With a single up the middle from third-year outfielder Sydney Orndorff, Frickleton made it across the plate from second. Simultaneously, a fielding error on the play from Sass allowed consecutive unearned runs from Bulinski scoring from first and Orndorff on her heels to add a third to the board. 

Leading off for the Ramblers in the top of the third, Sass started off the action with a walk. Vander Woude followed, advancing Sass with another walk. When Lesnicki singled up the middle, Sass took her chance and made it home from second base, putting the Ramblers on the board 3-1. 

In the top of the fifth, Loyola forced the Rams down to take the lead. Staden started off with a single driven down the middle and third-year infielder Skyler Croker stepped in to pinch run. With singles from Piotrowski and Sass, Croker advanced to third. Vander Woude was up next to single with a bunt, bringing Croker home and allowing the runners to advance. 

In consecutive plays, Lesnicki grounded out to second base, and Piotrowski scored on the play to tie the game at three. Then Sedakis hit a sacrifice fly down the right field line and Sass made it home, taking the lead 4-3 over the Rams.

In the top of the seventh, Piotrowski singled through the left infield line and advanced on a sacrifice bunt to third from Sass. Vander Woude stepped in to knock out a triple and bring in Piotrowski, who scored unearned and led the Ramblers to a triumphant double-header ending at 5-3. 

Game three of the series saw action immediately in the top of the first with Sass up first at-bat, making it on base with a walk and quickly stealing second. When Lesnicki sent a double to center field, Sass made it home from second to put the Ramblers on the board 1-0. 

Rhode Island responded in the bottom of the second when first-year catcher Brooke Fairbanks stepped up to the plate to send in a homer to right center, tying the game at one. 

Entering the top of the third, the Ramblers were quick to cancel out the Rams’ run when Lesnicki knocked one out of the park through the right. Sedakis followed suit by smashing her third homer of the season through the center, making the score 3-1.

The Rams battled back in the bottom when second-year infielder Julianne Torres reached first on a throwing error from Borg at third base. Torres advanced when fourth-year utility player Casey Miller hit a sacrifice bunt to third. Torres scored unearned when Frickleton singled, adding a second run to the board for Rhode Island. 

Loyola’s defense kept the Rams’ batters at bay the rest of the game, capping their scoring at two. Starting off the top of the fifth, the Rams saw a fielding error from Fairbanks, which allowed Vander Woude to reach first. 

Sedakis was next to get on base and landed with a walk. Runners advanced when first-year infielder Evelyn Miller made it to first on a walk. With a Borg single, two runs were scored as Vander Woude crossed the plate and Sedakis made it home from second, unearned. 

The Ramblers were up 5-2 entering the top of the seventh, and notched two more to the board. Lesnicki was first at the plate and singled to the right, and Hansen stepped in to pinch run. With a double to right center from Sedakis, Hansen raced to make it home from first, notching the sixth run. 

With a flyout from Miller, Sedakis advanced to third. The final run was scored when Borg grounded out to second, and Sedakis was brought in to defeat the Rams 7-2 and sweep the series. 

Following the successful weekend, head coach Alicia Abbott reflected positively on the away games, noting specifically the various pitchers who stepped in and proved their defensive capabilities on the mound. 

“I’m really proud of how we showed up and competed from start to finish this weekend; winning on the road is never easy,” Abbott said. “Our team stayed locked in every game and our pitchers set the tone early, which carried that momentum through the series. Opening with a shutout and having multiple arms step up and take wins speaks to our depth.” 

The Ramblers are returning to Loyola Softball Park, where they are set to match up against George Washington University April 18-19. The Ramblers will also host a home run derby on alumni day, April 18, and a kids clinic, April 19. The first game is set to start at 12 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.