TAMPA – The South Florida Showdown continued Saturday with two more games for the Ramblers. Loyola Chicago fell in the opener to No. 7 Oklahoma State, 6-0. Loyola then battled Yale until the very end, but ultimately fell, 8-7.
 
The Ramblers fall to 5-5 on the year.
 
Game One: No. 7 Oklahoma State 6, Loyola 0
Facing their second ranked opponent of the weekend, the Ramblers held strong against the Cowgirls through the first three innings. Oklahoma State only gained one base runner with a single in the first, while the defense for both teams locked down to start.
 
In the fourth inning, the Cowgirls found a way to plate the first two runs. Timm led off with a single and scored later in the inning on a ground out. Wark doubled to left center and crossed home on OSU's third hit of the inning for a 2-0 lead.
 
McDonald made it 5-0 in the fifth with a three-run home run for OSU. The Cowgirls would get their final run of the game in the sixth.
 
Abbie Gregus attempted to spark the Rambler offense in the bottom of the sixth with a single down the left field line, but Loyola couldn't overcome the setback, falling 6-0.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Gregus tallied the only hit for Loyola
- Loyola turned two double-plays.
- Peyton Pepkowski falls to 3-2. She struck out two over 5.1 innings.
- Bailey Johnson pitched the final 1.2 innings and had one strikeout.
 
Game Two: Yale 8, Loyola 7
After a quiet first inning, Sydney Barnett led off the second with a solo homer to left field to score the first run of the game. Yale responded in the bottom with three runs on five hits to swing momentum its way, 3-1.
 
It became 4-1 in the fourth for Yale following three singles to plate one run. The lead only increased by the sixth inning after six more hits blew it open to 8-1 Yale.
 
The Ramblers clawed back with a gritty seventh inning performance. Hannah Nalley led off with a walk and the based loaded with a single and walk to follow. Ava Bieneman forced a fielding error on her at-bat to bring Nalley home.
 
Barnett got Loyola within three following a two-run double, and Haley Wallace made it a one-run game with a two-run single through the left side. Despite having the winning run on base, the Ramblers couldn't convert and fell, 8-7.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Loyola tallied six hits in the game.
- Barnett, Wallace, and Teagan Sopczak tallied two each.
- Both of Barnett's hits were multi-base with a home run and double.
- Wallace and Sopczak also recorded doubles.
- Andie Broniewicz falls to 2-3 in the circle. She struck out two.
- Maddy Hickey struck out one in relief.
 
Up Next
Loyola wraps up the tournament with a 9 a.m. CT game vs. Pitt Sunday.