CHICAGO – The Loyola Chicago Ramblers open the 2024 slate this weekend in South Carolina at the Spartan Classic hosted by USC Upstate. The Ramblers will play four opponents over Friday and Saturday.
 
Weekend Schedule
Friday – 9 a.m. CT – vs. Towson 
Friday – 4:30 p.m. CT – at USC Upstate 
Saturday – vs. Toledo – 9 a.m. CT 
Saturday – vs. South Carolina State – 11:30 a.m. CT 
 
Quick Hits
• Loyola was tabbed second the in 2024 Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll earlier this week. The Ramblers raked in 91 points and four of the first-place votes behind preseason favorite Dayton.
• The Ramblers are coming off a runner-up finish in the tournament last season after forcing a winner-take-all championship contest with George Mason.
• Loyola finished 2023 at 27-20 overall and 18-6 in conference action. The Ramblers posted a 14-0 record on their home turf. They won seven A-10 series, including five sweeps.
• Thirteen letterwinners return from last season's squad, which includes five starters.
• Among the returners are two All-Atlantic 10 nods. Peyton Pepkowski was named to the second team, while Sierra Sass was tabbed All-Rookie.
• Pepkowski tossed a no-hitter last year vs. Butler for the seventh ever in program history. She had four games last year with at least 10 strikeouts.
• Sass hit .340 in A-10 action and tallied 16 hits, 10 runs, two RBI, and seven stolen bases.
• In the off-season, Loyola added six newcomers. Bella Crimaldi is a junior transfer, while the remaining five are true freshman.
• Head coach Alicia Abbott is in her fourth season at the helm. She's amassed a 69-91 overall record with Loyola.
 
Scouting Towson
Towson was tabbed fifth in the Coastal Athletic Association Preseason Poll. Last season, the Tigers finished 30-25 overall and 14-10 in league play. Towson won its first three games of the CAA Tournament last spring, making it to the championship where Hofstra managed to end Towson's season.
 
Mackenzie Lake and Addie Ferguson were put on the CAA Preseason Watch List. Lake led the Tigers batting .383 with 69 hits, nine doubles, five triples, and six homers. She was a first team selection last year. Ferguson was named first team and All-Rookie after tallying 22 hits and 17 RBI.
 
Scouting USC Upstate
USC Upstate was tabbed at the Big South's preseason favorite, tying with Longwood in the preseason poll. The Spartans finished 2023 at 38-17 overall and 13-8 in conference play. Longwood ended Upstate's season in game three of the Big South's tournament.
 
Denver Lauer earned Preseason Player of the Year honors, while Maddie Drerup was tabbed Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Lauer recorded 40 runs, 57 hits, 38 RBI, 10 doubles, two triples, six homers, and 42 stolen bases last year. Drerup recorded 96 strikeouts over 147.2 innings of work, posting a 17-5 record in the circle.
 
Scouting Toledo
Toledo finished last season at 21-25 overall and 14-14 in MAC play, missing out on the post season. The Rockets were selected seventh in the MAC Preseason Poll earlier this month.
 
The Rockets return Jenna Kroll who led Toledo, batting .348 over 46 starts last year. She totaled 46 hits, including five doubles and eight homers. Kroll tallied 29 RBI and 19 runs last year. Sophia Knight is their top returner to the circle. Last season, Knight finished with a 3.82 ERA and 9-9 record. She retired 76 batters over 121 innings.
 
Scouting South Carolina State
South Carolina State was tabbed seventh in the MEAC Preseason Poll. The Bulldogs went 7-28 last year with six of those wins coming in league play. They closed the 2023 season with a win over Choppin State.
 
Destiny Calloway returns to the plate and circle to lead the Bulldogs this year. Last season, she led the team, batting .295. Calloway tallied 26 hits, including one double and five homers. In the circle, she made 15 starts over 20 appearances. Calloway posted a 5.00 ERA, 5-8 record, and struck out 33 batters.