NASHVILLE (March 5, 2021)

In Short
Loyola University Chicago (1-6) scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to break open a 6-1 lead, then had to hold on for a 6-5 victory over Oakland (0-1) this afternoon) at the Purple & Gold Challenge hosted by Lipscomb University. Five of the Ramblers' first seven outings this season have been decided by a single run.
 
How It Happened
Oakland struck first in the bottom of the third inning but that lead wouldn't last long when Jocelyn Currie and Nova Sinskul would score on an error and groundout, respectively, in the top of the fourth giving to put Loyola ahead to stay.

The Ramblers would continue their scoring efforts in the top of the fifth with Abbey Jacobsen singled to center field, allowing Katie Polaski to score and later in the inning, Currie singled to right center to plate Madison Ebeling and Sophia Remsik for two more insurance runs. Currie would be the last to score as she stole home prior to a throwing error.

The Golden rallied in the bottom of the fifth when Jamie Squires doubled to right center allowing Allisa Diprima and Maci Brown to score to cut the Ramblers' lead to 6-3. Later in the inning, Lauren Griffith's two-run single to center scored Cammie Brummitt and Jamie Squires to trim Loyola's advantage to a sngle run, but Madison Veres would put an end to Oakland's comeback attempt with two strikeouts and pop out in the bottom of the seventh.

A Look at the Numbers
- Currie had one hit in three a-bats with a pair of runs scored and two RBI for a Loyola.
- Jacobsen had two hits and also scored a run.

Up Next
Loyola will play game two of the day against Lipscomb at 1:30 pm.