THE BRONX, N.Y. (May 13, 2023) – The Loyola Chicago softball team's quest for a first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament came up just short, as the Ramblers dropped a 6-3 decision in 10 innings to George Mason Saturday afternoon at Bahoshy Softball Complex on the campus of Fordham University. The loss came after a walk-off win in the eighth following a two-run bomb from Madison Ebeling to force the winner take all.
 
Loyola, the No. 2 seed in the field and making their A-10 Tournament debut, was in the championship round of a conference tournament for the first time since 2014 when the Ramblers were members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Ramblers finish the 2023 season 27-23 overall. 

Game One // Loyola 3, George Mason 2 (8 innings)
Ebeling played the role of hero in game one, launching a walk-off two-run home run to left in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Ramblers to a 3-2 victory over George Mason and force a winner take all championship game.
 
The Ramblers struck first Saturday, plating a run in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. Riley Owens singled with one away and moved to third on Amelia Thomas' ground-rule double to left. Haley Wallace drew a two-out walk, but the wild pitch allowed Owens to scamper home from third and put Loyola on top.
 
A pitcher's duel would form, with neither offense generating any traffic on the bases until the Patriots evened the score at 1-all with an RBI single in the top of the sixth. The teams would remain tied and head into extra innings, Loyola's second consecutive extra-innings contest of the tournament.
 
George Mason would take its first lead of the afternoon in the top of the eighth after a double to right center allowed Nicole Bechtel to score from first on the play and put the Patriots up by a 2-1 margin.
 
Loyola's eighth-inning rally began with the very first batter, as Tori Boysen led off the home half of the inning with an infield single. Boysen would advance to second on the sacrifice bunt by Teagan Sopczak and would remain at second as Ebeling would eventually step into the box with two away. With a 2-2 count, Ebeling launched her fourth home run of the season over the fence in left, sending the Loyola dugout into a frenzy as the Ramblers forced a winner take all championship game later in the afternoon.
 
Peyton Pepkowski picked up the win, scattering two runs on six hits over eight innings of work, striking out six and walking a pair.

Game Two // George Mason 6, Loyola 3 (10 innings)
For the third straight game, the Ramblers would find themselves in extra innings. This time Loyola would force it after a three-run sixth inning rally to tie the game.

The Patriots started out on top taking advantage of a throwing error to plate two unearned runs in the first inning before taking a 3-0 edge in the fourth following a single from Zoe Vozick that brought in Elys DeRosa.

Loyola remained quiet until the sixth inning with the Ramblers rallied for three to knot the game. With two outs, Ava Bieneman and Thomas beat the throws at first for infield singles, while Sydney Barnett loaded the bases after a six pitch at-bat that ended in a walk. George Mason's pitched then delivered four straight balls to Haley Wallace for a second consecutive walk and the first Rambler run. Boysen came up clutch next for Loyola with a two-run single to right field to tie the Patriots and force extra innings.

Barnett nearly ended the game in the eighth inning sending the 1-0 pitch to left field. The ball was just inches shy of clearing the fence and was ruled a double, but with two outs, the Ramblers couldn't find a way to bring her home.

Loyola's luck ran out in the 10th inning with back-to-back walks in the first two at-bats. Both runners scored on a Nic Bechtel double to left field, while one more would score on a hot hit ball to first making it 6-3 in favor of the Patriots. 

The Ramblers had the tying run up to bat twice in the bottom of the 10th after notching two straight singles to start the inning, but George Mason turned three routine plays to capture the win and A-10 title.

Inside the Box Score
- In game one, the Patriots led 6-4 in hits.
- Ebeling led the Rambler performances with one hit, one run, and two RBI.
- Thomas and Ebeling tallied a double and homer, respectively, for Loyola's extra-base hits.
- Pepkowski's 16th win came in the circle with a complete game pitched.
-George Mason out hit Loyola 9-7 in game two.
- Boysen finished with two RBI.
- Haley Wallace was walked three times and tallied an RBI.
- Sierra Sass finished 2-for-4 and was the only Rambler with multiple hits.
- Andie Broniewicz got the starting nod and retired five batters. She came out in the third and finished the game.
- Bailey Johnson saw 1.1 innings, while Pepkowski recorded 4.2 innings of work and finishes the year 16-12.
- Between Loyola's final three games of the tournament, the Ramblers played 27 innings in 24 hours with all seeing extra innings.