CHICAGO (March 30, 2021) - Loyola University Chicago (5-15, 1-4 MVC) will play its first game at Loyola Softball Park since May 5, 2019, when it hosts crosstown rival DePaul in its 2021 home opener Wednesday afternoon. The Ramblers have played 42 consecutive games away from home (including neutral sites) since their last game in Rogers Park nearly two years ago.

The Ramblers have come up on the short end of each of the last five decisions and of their 15 setbacks this spring, a remarkable seven of those have come in walk-off fashion. 

Over the last seven outings, the Loyola offense is generating 4.6 runs per game after managing 3.2 runs through the first 13 games of the year.

Senior first baseman Allyson Ivey is batting .448 (13-for-29) with three doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI over the last nine contests. The right-handed hitter has hit safely in 10 of the last 12 contests, totaling five multi-hit efforts in that stretch.

Junior shortstop Madison Ebeling has hit safely in six of the last seven games, including each of the last four, and has notched three consecutive two-hit efforts. During her current four-game hitting streak, the Bartlett, Ill., native has hiked her batting average nearly 100 points, from .167 to .264, by going 7-for-11 (.636) with a triple, two home runs and three RBI.

Loyola – DePaul – The Series

DePaul and Loyola are meeting for the 73rd time in a long-running series between the city rivals. The Blue Demons have won 11 of the last 12 meetings, including each of the last six, in the Red Line Rivalry and Loyola is after its first win against DePaul since a 1-0 decision at Loyola Softball Park on April 3, 2012.  When the teams matched up on the opening weekend of the 2021 season at the DePaul Dome Tournament in Rosemont, DePaul rolled to a 14-6 victory despite a two-run homer from Allyson Ivey, while Nova Sinskul tallied a pair of hits and knocked in a pair of runs.

Scouting DePaul

The Blue Demons carry a three-game winning streak into Wednesday's showdown with Loyola and have won five of their last six contests overall. As a team, DePaul is batting .282 and five of the Blue Demons' regulars are hitting .300 or higher, led by Jessica Cothern, who owns a .383 batting average (18-for-47) and a .463 on-base percentage, to go with four home runs and eight RBI. Kate Polucha has driven in a team-high 12 runs and has clubbed four home runs and is hitting .321 (17-for-53). In the pitching circle, right-hander Krista Dalgarn is 6-1 with a 4.80 earned-run average and 47 strikeouts in 50.2 innings pitched.

Up Next

Loyola hosts Missouri Valley Conference rival Southern Illinois in a three-game series, April 2-3.