AMHERST, Mass. (April 7, 2023) - Loyola (14-17, 8-3) rallied in extra innings to complete a sweep in Friday's doubleheader at UMass. A hot first inning helped the Ramblers to a 7-2 win in game one, while a late seventh inning rally forced extras and an 8-7 win in game two. Madison Ebeling led the Ramblers with six hits. She had three in each game, including a double, triple, and home run.

Game One // Loyola 7, UMass 2
The Ramblers secured the game one win in the first inning with three runs out of the gate. Ebeling and Hannah Nalley sparked the action with back-to-back singles. They also scored the first two runs. Ebeling capitalized on a passed ball, while Amelia Thomas batted in Nalley. Thomas wasn't on the base path long and was brought home with a Sydney Barnett double, and it was a quick 3-0 lead for Loyola. 

Thomas added another run for Loyola in the third with a solo home run to right field, and by the end of the fourth the Ramblers led 5-0.

UMass finally answered in the fifth to avoid a shutout. Whelan and Wameling tallied two straight singles to open the inning. Whelan scored on Whittier's single to center, while Wameling snuck home on a double-play for the first two outs. Sields flew out in the next at-bat, and Loyola ended the fifth leading 5-2.

In the sixth inning, the Ramblers tallied two more insurance runs on four hits. With two outs, Sass singled to left field followed by a single to left by Sophia Remsik. Both were plated by Ebeling with a double giving Loyola a 7-2 edge. The Minutewomen failed to record another hit handing the Ramblers the win.

Game Two // Loyola 8, UMass 7 (8 innings)
The finale of Friday's doubleheader came down to the final three innings of play. The Ramblers scored three in the sixth and seventh to force extras and came out on top in the eighth outscoring the Minutewomen, 3-2 in the final frame.

Ebeling put Loyola on the board first with a solo blast to left in the third inning. UMass had a response and scored four unearned runs in the bottom jumping out to a 4-1 lead.

In the fifth, it was Sinskul's turn to run the bases with Loyola's second homer of the game. It cut the lead, 4-2, but the Minutewomen regained a three-run edge in the fifth following back-to-back doubles from Whittier and Pantoja.

The sixth started just like the fifth with another Rambler home run. Barnett led off with Loyola's third homer of the game. She sparked the late-game rally leading the Ramblers to three straight runs to tie the game 5-5 in the seventh.

Loyola's bats stayed alive in the eighth. The Ramblers loaded the bases with two outs and set Nalley up for a two-tun double. Thomas helped plate one more with a single giving the Ramblers an 8-5 edge.

UMass didn't give up in the eighth and put the winning run on base with three hits. The Minutewomen scored two on a pair of Rambler errors, but Loyola held on for an 8-7 win.

Inside the Box Score
- For the first time this season, Loyola tallied double-digit hits in back-to-back games.
- In game one, Loyola recorded 12 hits with four Ramblers tallying at least two each.
- Ebeling led with three hits. She also tallied three RBI and a run scored.
- Thomas scored two runs and added two RBI.
- Ebeling, Nalley, Wallace, and Sass each stole a base.
- Peyton Pepkowski improved to 8-7 with the win. She retired seven batters.
- In game two, the Ramblers notched 13 hits. 
- Ebeling went 3-for-3 with three runs and one RBI. She was also walked twice.
- Nalley and Barnett both tallied a pair of hits and batted two in.
- The Ramblers recorded three homers in game two. It was the first time this season they recorded more than one in a game.
- Ebeling, Nalley, and Thomas stole one base each. 
- In the circle, Andie Broniewicz picked up her fifth win. She had one strikeout. 

Up Next
Loyola will go for the sweep at UMass Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.