PEORIA, Ill. – Breaking from Atlantic 10 action, the Loyola University Chicago softball team split its doubleheader with Bradley Wednesday on the road. The Ramblers fell, 2-1, in the opener but rebounded for a 4-3 win in extra innings to have the final say in the affair.

"Our pitchers did an excellent job keeping us in both games," said Loyola head coach Alicia Abbott. "Playing our game in game two helped us pull the victory out."

Game One: Bradley 2, Loyola 1
The Ramblers (12-13) narrowly lost the day's opener, 2-1, after a hard-fought seven innings. The Braves (12-14) struck first with a two-run homer in the second inning, taking a 2-0 lead. Later in the top of the fourth, Nat Lesnicki scored the Ramblers' sole run of the game after Sydney Barnett's RBI double.

Peyton Pepkowski, who went the distance, ended the fifth inning with a strikeout. With one out in the top of the sixth, Lesnicki singled to left field, bringing the tying run aboard but Bradley stuck out the ensuing two Ramblers to put an end to the comeback.
The Braves stranded two Ramblers in the seventh to win the doubleheader's opener, 2-1.

Inside the Box Score

• Lesnicki was a perfect three-for-three at the dish, leading Loyola in the batter's box.
• Barnett's RBI double was Loyola's only other hit in the contest.
• Pepkowski fell to 6-7 in the circle this season. She allowed just four hits and two runs through 25 batters faced.
• Pepkowski rang up eight batters in the loss, three shy of tying her season high.

Game Two: Loyola 4, Bradley 3
Loyola plated a run in the first inning after Barnett blasted an RBI double, scoring Haley Wallace. Andie Broniewicz forced three ground outs in the bottom half of the inning to keep Loyola in front.

Bradley took the lead in the fourth with a pair of runs, but Loyola regained the advantage, 3-2, with one out in the top of the seventh inning. In the clutch, Nat Lesnicki belted a two-RBI double to left field, scoring Ava Bieneman and Riley Owens.

In the home at-bat, Bradley leveled the contest, 3-3, in the bottom of the seventh inning, sending the game to extra innings. With Loyola batting first, Teagan Sopczak scored the go-ahead run thanks to Jocelyn Currie's fielder's choice. The Ramblers' defense helped propel them to a 4-3 win after the bottom half of the seventh.

Inside the Box Score

• Lesnicki led in the box with one hit and two RBI.
• Six Ramblers logged a hit in the win.
• Broniewicz improved to 6-4 in the circle, pitching a full eight innings.
• She allowed just two earned runs while sitting down three batters.

Up Next
The Ramblers return to A-10 play this weekend, hosting George Mason for their home opener at Loyola Softball Park. The series begins Saturday (March 23) with a doubleheader. Start times are set for noon and 2:30 p.m. CT. The series closer is set for Sunday (March 24) at noon.