CHICAGO (March 23, 2023) - The Ramblers continue Atlantic 10 action this weekend with their home opener. Loyola (5-16, 1-2) hosts Saint Joseph's (11-11, 3-0) at Loyola Softball Park on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's schedule has been changed to a single game beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday will feature a doubleheader with first pitch at 11 a.m.
LEADING OFF
• Atlantic 10 action opened last weekend with a three-game series at George Mason. The Ramblers went 1-2 improving their record to 5-16 overall.
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Amelia Thomas led Loyola against the Patriots. She hit .600 (6-10) with two doubles and her first homer of the year.
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Nova Sinskul also had a solid weekend at the plate hitting .429 (3-7). She had a double, RBI, and two runs.
• In the circle,
Peyton Pepkowski got the starting nod twice following her A-10 Pitcher of the Week accolade in Loyola's last week of action. Pepkowski matched her season-high eight strikeouts in the first game of action. In the third game, she retired another seven.
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Andie Broniewicz earned her first win in the circle. She improved to 1-6 this season in a 7-6 win in game two vs. George Mason. She struck out two Patriots.
• Overall, Pepkowski has been Loyola's go-to in the circle with 11 starts and seven complete games. She leads the pitching staff with a 3.02 ERA and 4-6 record. Pepkowski has retired 57 total batters this year and holds her opponents to .211 at the plate.
• After last weekend,
Amelia Thomas continues to lead the Ramblers hitting .379 this year. Thomas has 22 hits, including four doubles and one home run. Her on-base percentage is .971.
• Thomas' home run at GMU was the third homer the Ramblers have tallied this season.
Sydney Barnett and
Madison Ebeling both have one this season.
• Head coach
Alicia Abbott is in her fourth year at the helm. During her tenure, the Ramblers are 47-84.
SCOUTING THE SAINT JOSEPH'S HAWKS
The Hawks enter the second weekend of conference play sitting 11-11 overall and 3-0 in the league. Saint Joseph's is riding a seven-game win streak after sweeping UMass last weekend and wins against Drexel, Fairleigh Dickinson, Coppin State, and Radford earlier in March. SJU leads the A-10 with a 2.85 ERA and in stolen bases per game (1.95).
HAWKS TO WATCH
• Kaelin Cash is hitting .386 to lead the Hawks, which ranks seventh in the conference. Cash has 22 hits, including a league leading eight home runs. Her eight homers ranks 10th in the country this season. She also sits at the top of the A-10 with a .825 slugging percentage. Cash has 12 runs and 16 RBI this year.
•Madison Fife is the only other Hawk hitting over .300 at the .346 mark. She has 18 hits, including two doubles and three homers. Fife also has five runs and three RBI.
• Five pitchers have logged time in the circle this season, and they are led by Emily Siler with 71.0 innings pitched. Siler has a 2.96 ERA and a 6-5 record. She's retired a team-best 63 strikeouts, which ranks fourth in the league and 114th in the NCAA.
• Jules Scogna has the best ERA (1.30) on SJU. She's made nine appearances and one start to compile 27.0 innings in the circle. Scogna has a save, 2-1 record, and 21 strikeouts.
