BRONX, N.Y. (May 12, 2023) – For the first time since 2012, the Loyola softball team is headed to a conference championship game. Despite dropping the first game to No. 4 George Mason (3-0), the Ramblers rallied in extra innings to down the top-seeded Saint Louis Billikens to stay alive in the A-10 Tournament.
 
With the split, Loyola sits at 26-22. The championship game will begin at 11 a.m. CT Saturday. The Ramblers have to win the first to force a winner take all at 1:30 p.m. CT.
 
Game One // George Mason 3, Loyola 0
All the scoring action came early in game one with the Patriots using two homers in the first to take a 3-0 lead.
 
Bozek led off with a walk for an early edge on the base path. Taormina then fouled her first pitch off before taking two balls. On the fourth pitch, Taormina cranked the ball over the left center fence jumping out to a 2-0 lead.
 
The Ramblers retired the next two outs with a fly out to right and ground out to short. Maddy Myers would get the Patriots one more with a home run off the right field fence, and George Mason would hold on to the 3-0 lead for the remainder of the game.
 
Loyola tallied a hit in the fourth and fifth before gaining two more in the seventh with the tying run at the plate. George Mason tallied three straight outs to leave the two stranded and capture the win.
 
Game Two // Loyola 7, Saint Louis 5 (9 innings)
Friday's night cap was a nail biter with a trip to the championship on the line between the top two teams in the tournament. Loyola held a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh before Saint Louis forced extra innings tying it with two outs.
 
Kowalik and Etling recorded RBI singles, while Mallo plated one with a double for the Billikens knotting the game 5-5 for free softball in The Bronx.
 
Both teams tallied hits in the eighth but couldn't convert.
 
Despite two outs, the Ramblers found a spark in the ninth with back-to-back singles from Teagan Sopczak and Tori Boysen. Sierra Sass slapped the ball to short who fumbled the ball on the throw allowing both Sopczak and Boysen to score unearned on the play. The deadlock ended, 7-5, for Loyola.
 
With the end of the season on the line, Amelia Thomas grabbed a pop ball and foul ball, and Nova Sinskul snatched a foul on the third base line to retire three straight Billikens. Loyola hung on for the win to advance to the championship game Saturday.
 
Inside the Box Score
- This is the first championship game appearance for the Ramblers since 2012 when the team lost in the Horizon League finals.
- Loyola and George Mason both earn its first trip to the A-10 Championship in program history.
- In game one, four Ramblers combined for the four hits.
- Peyton Pepkowski fell to 14-11, but she struck out seven batters.
- In game two, Loyola out hit Saint Louis, 13-10.
- Riley Owens went 3-for-5 with three runs scored for a career-best performance.
- Thomas went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and two walks.
- Sass and Sydney Barnett added another two hits each.
- Barnett and Ebeling had doubles.
- Andie Broniewicz made the start and pitched seven innings. She recorded one strikeout.
- Pepkowski came in for the win and retired one.
 
Up Next
Loyola and George Mason meet again in the championships. Game one is slated for 11 a.m. CT Saturday. The Ramblers have to win the first game to force a winner take all at 1:30 p.m. CT.