CHICAGO – The Ramblers and Patriots split Saturday's Atlantic 10 doubleheader in Loyola Chicago's home opener. Loyola took a 4-3 walk-off win in game one, while George Mason prevailed in extras, 12-9.
 
With the split, Loyola sits at 12-13 overall, 2-3 A-10.
 
"I am proud of our teams fight throughout the day," said head coach Alicia Abbott. "They played gritty and even though we didn't get the win in game two they fought hard."
 
Game One: Loyola 4, George Mason 3
The Patriots took an early lead over the Ramblers with a solo homer in the third to get the scoring action started. The Ramblers loaded the bases in the bottom but stranded all three to trail 1-0.
 
George Mason doubled its lead in the sixth after a lead-off walk scored on Elyssa DeRos's single up the middle. Loyola was able to erase the effort in the bottom, plating its first run on Jocelyn Currie's at-bat.
 
The Ramblers pulled off the seventh-inning rally to walk off against the Patriots. Nat Lesnicki walked in the lead-off slot, while Ava Bieneman singled. Both batters advanced on a fly ball to left, while Teagan Sopczak loaded the bases with another walk. Riley Owens sent them all home with a deep triple to center field, and Loyola won 4-3.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Loyola tallied six hits.
- Owens went 3-for-3 with three RBI. She had a double and triple.
- Lesnicki and Bieneman scored once each, while Sopczak scored twice.
- Peyton Pepkowski pitched a complete game. She retired 10 batters and improves to 7-7.
 
Game Two: George Mason 12, Loyola 9 (8 inn.)
Bats were hot for both teams in the first inning of game two. The Patriots jumped ahead 3-0 with a three-run homer from Maddy Myers. Sydney Barnett answered with her own three-run bomb in the bottom to knot the game, 3-3.
 
George Mason used five more hits in the second to plate five runs and take an 8-3 advantage.
 
Loyola slowly chipped away beginning in the fifth. The Ramblers cut the lead to three with a three-hit inning, highlighted by a one-run triple from Barnett. Then in the sixth, Loyola got within one with Liz Sedakis and Sierra Sass scoring. Sedakis stole home, while Bieneman laid down a bunt to bring Sass across the plate.
 
The Patriots didn't give up and added a run on a hit in the seventh, but the Ramblers responded and tied the game 9-9 in the bottom with two runs on two hits.
 
GMU used a pair of doubles in the eighth to jump ahead of Loyola 12-9. The Patriots then retired three straight to clinch the extra inning win.
 
Inside the Box Score
- The Ramblers tallied 12 hits.
- Barnett finished 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored.
- Bieneman, Wallace, and Sedakis had two hits each.
- Sedakis had a double, while Barnett recorded a triple and home run.
- Four Ramblers stole a base.
- Andie Broniewicz started the game in the circle and struck out two.
- Maddy Hickey pitched the final six innings and retired four Patriots.
 
Up Next
The series finale is set for 12 p.m. tomorrow at Loyola Softball Park.