BOCA RATON, Fla. (February 11, 2023) – The Loyola softball team picked up its first win of the season at the Paradise Classic, taking down host Florida Atlantic, 3-1, in the Ramblers' first game of Saturday's twinbill. Loyola would go on to drop the nightcap to Bethune-Cookman by a 4-1 margin to split the pair of games.
 
Game 1 // Loyola 3, Florida Atlantic 1

Loyola struck first, plating a pair in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead over the Owls. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Teagan Sopczak singled through the left side to give the Ramblers life. Nova Sinskul delivered with an RBI double to center to drive home Sopczak and give Loyola the early 1-0 lead. Sinskul would come around to score on FAU's throwing error, pushing the Loyola lead to 2-0.
 
After the Ramblers had runners on the corners with one away in the third, the Loyola lead swelled to 3-0 off a Sopczak RBI single through the left side to drive home Riley Owens.
 
The three-run lead was more than enough for Peyton Pepkowski, who held the Owls to just three hits on the night. Pepkowski picked up her first win of the year, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out seven FAU batters.
 
Game 2 // Bethune-Cookman 4, Loyola 1

 Bethune-Cookman took the early lead in the nightcap by getting on the board with a solo shot in the second inning. The Wildcat lead would extend to 4-0 after three unearned runs came across in the fifth.
 
Loyola got a run back in the sixth when Madison Ebeling led off with a triple to center, eventually coming around to score on a sacrifice fly to the right side by Jocelyn Currie.
 
The rally was short-lived for the Ramblers as the one run was not enough, with Bethune-Cookman closing out a scoreless seventh inning to secure the 4-1 victory.
 
Up Next
The Ramblers close out action at the Paradise Classic on Sunday against Stony Brook. First pitch in Boca Raton is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. (CT).