CHICAGO (April 11, 2021)
 
In Short
Host Loyola University Chicago (6-19, 2-7 MVC) rallied from a two-run deficit, scoring three times in the third inning to take the lead for good, in a 5-3 victory over Bradley (12-11, 5-5 MVC) in game one of a doubleheader at Loyola Softball Park this afternoon. The victory snaps the Ramblers' eight-game losing skid and gives them their first win in five tries at home this season.
 
How It Happened
Avry Blume's solo home run to left field with two outs in the top of the first inning put Bradley on the board first, but Loyola evened the score in the bottom of the second when Jocelyn Currie scored on a Bradley error.
 
Blume put the Braves back ahead in the third inning when she crushed her second roundtripper of the day, this one a two-run blast to left, however, the Ramblers stole momentum right back with a three spot in the bottom half of the frame.
 
Madison Ebeling got the rally started with her second hit of the day to lead off the inning, then stole second before scoring on Nova Sinskul's RBI single. Sydney Barnett followed with a double to right center that sent Sinskul scampering home to tie the game. Barnett's double chased Braves starter Grace French from the contest and one out later, Teagan Sopczak's single to right field plated Barnett to put the Ramblers on top, 4-3.
 
Loyola added an insurance run in the fourth on Ebeling's infield hit and righthander Sydney Ruggles did a masterful job working out of a major jam in the top of the fifth to keep the Ramblers in the lead. Bradley loaded the bases that inning with three straight walks, but Ruggles struck our Stacia Seeton before getting Keeler van Breusegen to pop out and Taise Thompson to fly out to end the threat.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Ebeling continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-3 with a RBI, while Barnett added a pair of hits for a Loyola offense that totaled nine hits off three Bradley hurlers.
• Ruggles scattered four hits and struck out nine Braves to earn her fourth win of the year.
• Blume went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a pair of homers for Bradley.

 
Up Next
Loyola and Bradley play game two of today's doubleheader at 2 p.m. CT.