Box Score

PEORIA - The Loyola University Chicago softball team fell to Bradley, 5-3, in the first of a three-game series against the Braves. Originally scheduled to be played at Loyola Softball Park, the series was moved to Laura Bradley Park due to recent winter weather conditions in Chicago. Brooke Wyderski led the Ramblers, recording a two-run double and crossing home plate once.

Both teams were held scoreless until the top of the second inning, when Bradley got on the board after leading off the frame with a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead. After two more scoreless innings, Loyola's bats got hot at the bottom of the fifth. Hannah Jenkins led off the frame with a walk before advancing to second on a single by Erica Nagel. Jamie O'Brien then advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt before a double by Wyderski knocked in two runs to give the Ramblers a 2-1 lead. Ashley Parenti reached base on an error, bringing Wyderksi home to increase the Loyola lead to 3-1.

Bradley responded in the top of the sixth inning, leading off the frame with two walks and a single to load the bases. The Braves scored on a sacrifice fly before back-to-back walks brought in another run, tying the game at 3-3. Ashley Rogers then entered the game for Madison Hope, but another pair of walks knocked in two more runs to give Bradley a 5-3 lead. Neither team scored the rest of the game, giving Bradley the 5-3 victory.