NASHVILLE (February 25, 2021)
 
In Short
Loyola University Chicago (0-6) led 6-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh only to see Belmont (2-4) charge back to tie the game and ultimately grab a 7-6 decision in nine innings in the nightcap of a twin bill at E.S. Rose Park Thursday afternoon.
 
How It Happened
Belmont jumped on the board first, pushing across four runs in the bottom of the first inning and the game would stay that way until the top of the fifth when the Ramblers made it a contest again by cutting the deficit to a single run.
 
Madison Ebeling's double down the left field line got Loyola on the board in the fifth and the Maroon and Gold would tack on two more tallies in the frame to get within a run. Ebeling came up with a big hit again in the sixth to cap the Ramblers' comeback, slapping a two-run single to right to score Teagan Sopczak and Jocelyn Currie to put Loyola ahead, 5-4. Amelia Thomas followed with a triple to bring in Ebeling as the Ramblers added to the lead.
 
However, the Bruins staged a rally in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings, doing all of their damage with two outs. Right fielder Audrey Lyle's two-run home run homer to left center knotted the score to force extra innings and the Bruins wound up with the win when Lyle smashed a lead-off roundtripper to lead off the ninth inning for a 7-6 Bruins victory.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Freshman center fielder Teagan Sopczak went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored for a Loyola, which totaled 11 hits off three Belmont pitchers.
• Ebeling tallies two hits and knocked in three runs.
• Bri Clifton sparkled in relief, tossing 6.0 innings of three-hit ball, while punching out three Bruins.

 
Up Next
Loyola will play in the Purple and Gold Challenge hosted by Lipscomb, March 5-7.