SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Loyola softball went undefeated at the Spartan Classic after closing the weekend with another pair of wins. The Ramblers downed the Rockets 4-2 and picked up a run-rule walk off over South Carolina State, 13-5.
 
Loyola improves to 4-0 overall.

"I'm so proud of our 'Blers this whole weekend," said head coach Alicia Abbott. "They did a great job scoring first, and when they didn't have the opportunity to score first they answered back immediately. Our pitchers did a great job throwing strikes and hitting their spots to limit runs."
 
Game One: Loyola 4, Toledo 2
The Ramblers posted another three-run first inning in Saturday's opening game. Ava Bieneman got the offense going with a triple to right center before she came home and scored on a Haley Wallace single. Wallace and Liz Sedakis added two more to the board, scoring on Nat Lesnicki's single to left center.
 
In the top of the second, Abbie Gregus hit a solo blast to left field making it four unanswered runs for the Ramblers.
 
The Rockets plated two of their own on their next hit in the fourth. Mohr led off with a walk and was brought home by Kroll's home run over the center field fence. Toledo left one stranded in the fifth and seventh, and Loyola held on for its third straight win, 4-2.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Five Ramblers combined for Loyolas five hits.
- Gregus hit the first home run of the season.
- Lesnicki tallied a team-high two RBI.
- Katie Mitchell and Sedakis had stolen bases.
- In the circle, Broniewicz earned her second win. She struck out three.
- Bailey Johnson came in for relief in the final inning and retired one batter.
 
Game Two: Loyola 13, South Carolina State 5 (6 inn.)
The Bulldogs struck first plating the first run of the game in the first inning. Madison Boyd got on base after a passed ball and eventually crossed home on a Taylor Ames single up the middle. The Ramblers didn't let them hold a lead for long, quickly jumping ahead in the second. Hannah Nalley led off with a double, while Teagan Sopczak walked. Both scored in the inning for a 2-1 lead.
 
South Carolina State swung momentum back in its favor in the third, capitalizing on a pair of Rambler errors. The Bulldogs tallied four hits and three runs, including a two-run single that force both errors in the field.
 
 Loyola rallied in the bottom frame to take control and never look back. Lesnicki and Nalley walked in back-to-back at-bats, while Gregus filled the bases on an error. All three scored on singles from Sopczak and Owens.
 
The Ramblers continued their dominance with four more runs in the fourth, two in the fifth, and two in the sixth. Nalley and Sopczak scored the final two runs, helping Loyola to a 13-5 walk-off win in six innings.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Loyola tallied a season-high 14 hits and 12 RBI.
- Owens finished 3-for-4 at the plate, while four other Ramblers tallied two each.
- Five Ramblers combined for seven stolen bases. Bieneman and Sopczak recorded two each.
- Maddy Hickey made her first career start in the circle. She struck out five before Peyton Pepkowski came in for relief.
- Pepkowski improves to 2-0 earning the win. She struck out four.
 
Up Next
The Ramblers head to the Bubly Invitational next week in Gainesville, Florida. Loyola will play three opponents over a five-game tournament, beginning Friday, Feb. 16 with College of Charleston and Florida.