CHICAGO (March 1, 2018) – The Loyola softball team heads to the Sunshine State for 12 games over the next 10 days as it partakes in a pair of tournaments. Head coach Jeff Tylka's squad, which brings a 5-4 record into the trip, kicks off action tomorrow when it faces La Salle and LIU Brooklyn at the EMU Madeira Beach Invitational. A year ago, the Ramblers won all five games en route to the title at the same tournament.
 
Following five games this weekend at the EMU Madeira Beach Invitational, Loyola will battle Northern Kentucky and South Dakota State in Clearwater, Florida, on March 7, before concluding the trip with five contests at the USF Tournament in Tampa, March 9-11.
 
Loyola has gotten off to a fast start offensively, hitting .306 as a team through nine games. Five starters are batting over .300, led by Shannon McGee's .429 (12-for-28) mark. Freshman Allyson Ivey has gotten her collegiate career off to a rousing beginning, batting .407 (11-for-27) with three doubles and nine RBI, while Jordyn Cordell is hitting an even .400 (8-for-20).
 
In the circle, junior righthander Kiley Jones has recorded four of the Ramblers' five wins and sports a 1.42 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 29.2 innings of work.