AUSTIN, Texas (February 18, 203) — The Loyola softball team (3-6) fell in a pair of close, one-run ballgames Saturday including a 3-2 setback to Incarnate Word and 6-5 defeat against ninth-ranked Texas. The Ramblers are set to close out the Texas Classic tomorrow against Nebraska Omaha.
Game 1 // UIW 3, Loyola 2
Loyola fell behind 2-0 early and tried to claw its way back in the second matchup against the Cardinals in as many days.
UIW took advantage of six extra-base hits in the game, including an RBI double in the first inning and solo home run by first baseman Baylee Lemons in the third.
The Ramblers, who would end up with more hits (8-7) than the Cards, got on the board with a run in the fifth after
Sierra Sass crossed the plate off an RBI knock from
Madison Ebeling.
After the Cardinals tacked on another run in the sixth with an RBI triple, Sass came around to score again for Loyola in the seventh as freshman
Bella DeZeeuw lifted a pinch-hit, sacrifice fly.
Both teams left seven runners on base, with Loyola stranding one runner in every inning but the third. The Ramblers had two runners aboard with one out in the sixth, but grounded into back-to-back fielder's choice putouts at third base.
Ebeling, Sass and
Amelia Thomas each posted two hits, along with base knocks recorded by
Haley Wallace and
Tori Boysen. In the circle,
Bailey Johnson tossed two frames and was relieved by
Andie Broniewicz.
Game 2 // Texas 6, Loyola 5
Loyola jumped on Texas with two runs in the top of the first, with back-to-back, two-out RBI doubles by
Haley Wallace and
Hannah Nalley.
The Longhorns tied the game in the third at 2-2, before the Ramblers scored twice on a pair of wild pitches in the fourth for a 4-2 advantage.
However, Texas responded again in the next half inning with two runs to even the score at 4-4 and tacked on two more in the fifth, claiming its first lead of the night.
Loyola threatened with two runners reaching in the sixth, but could only push one across with an RBI single from Ebeling.
The Ramblers produced a season-high three doubles with one each from Wallace, Nalley and
Sydney Barnett. Wallace and Barnett each led Loyola at the dish with a pair of hits apiece.
Peyton Pepkowski went five innings in the circle, with four earned runs charged against seven hits and six walks. The first two runs for Texas were unearned.
Up Next
After wrapping up play in Texas, Loyola will participate in the Racer Classic, hosted by Murray State in Murray, Ky. on Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 25-26. The Ramblers will bookend the trip with two games against Miami (OH), along with single contests against Murray State and Ball State.
