CHICAGO (March 31, 2021)
 
In Short
Host Loyola University Chicago (5-16) pounded out nine hits, but came up on the short end of a 7-5 decision to city rival DePaul (11-7) this afternoon at Loyola Softball Park in the Ramblers' 2021 home opener. The Ramblers have dropped their last five outings, but have scored 20 runs over that stretch
 
How It Happened
DePaul got on the board first, using a two-run home run by left fielder Kate Polucha in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Loyola answered right back however, striking for a pair of tallies of its own in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 2-2.
 
The Blue Demons reclaimed the lead for good by tacking on single runs in the second and third innings, but the Ramblers cut the deficit in half in the third inning thanks to Jocelyn Currie's squeeze bunt that scored Amelia Thomas, who had led of the frame with a single up the middle.
 
DePaul stole momentum right back in the fourth though, plating two more runs to increase its advantage to 6-3. After the Demons hung another run on the board in the fifth inning, the Ramblers rallied for two runs in the bottom half of that frame, with Thomas' sacrifice fly bringing in pinch runner Sophia Remsik, and Madison Ebeling would later score on a passed ball to cut the gap to 7-5.
 
Loyola brought the tying run to the plate in both the sixth and seventh innings, but reliever Natalie Halvorsen slammed the door on the Ramblers' rallies each time.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Allyson Ivey, Madison Ebeling and Amelia Thomas recorded two hits apiece for a Loyola offense that managed nine hits off a pair of DePaul pitchers.
• Junior right-hander Sydney Ruggles was solid in relief, striking out four batters in 3.0 innings.
• Gabby O'Riley went 3-for-3 for DePaul, which had seven of its starters tally at least one hit.

 
Up Next
The Ramblers host Southern Illinois in a three-game series, April 2 and 3.