CHICAGO – Loyola Chicago opened its series vs. Massachusetts Saturday in sweeping fashion. The Ramblers clinched a pair of wins on their home turf. Game one was a 6-1 decision, while game two was a 3-2 walk-off in the seventh.
 
Loyola improves to 22-20 overall, 11-8 in league play.
 
Game One: Loyola 6, UMass 1
The Ramblers didn't waste time getting started Saturday as they took a 2-0 edge in the first tinning. Haley Wallace tallied the first hit and run scored of the game as Sydney Barnett brought her in with a double. Barnett added the second run to the board on a UMass error.
 
Another Minutewomen error in the second inning allowed Sierra Sass to get on second with two outs. Ava Bieneman sent the ball bouncing into right field to record a triple and plate Sass for a 3-0 lead.
 
The Ramblers made it 5-0 in the fourth with a pair of hits to score two. Teagan Sopczak led off with a single, while Abbie Gregus beat the throw on a bunt. The pair of base runners advanced with a ground out, with two straight walks and a sac fly brought both runs across.
 
UMass finally tallied its first hit of the game in the fifth inning on a Torres double. Despite being left stranded, the Minutewomen were able to put one on the board in the sixth inning with three more hits. Loyola matched the run in the bottom frame with a solo homer from Barnett.
 
Loyola allowed two more UMass runners in the top of the seventh, but the Ramblers held on to win 6-1.
 
Inside the Box Score
- The Ramblers tallied 12 hits. It's the 10^th game this season Loyola has recorded double-digit hits.
- Barnett went 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs.
- Sopczak and Bieneman added two each.
- Peyton Pepkowski logged a complete game and improved to 12-10. She retired seven batters.
 
Game Two: Loyola 3, UMass 2
The second game of the doubleheader got off to a slower start, but the Ramblers still recorded the first run scored. Hannah Nalley and Jocelyn Currie were walked back-to-back to open the bottom of the second. Abbie Gregus was walked two at-bats later to fill the bases, while Bieneman's two-out walk brought Nalley home for a 1-0 lead.
 
Loyola doubled its lead in the bottom of the fourth with an inside the park home run by Sopczak.
 
UMass used a sixth-inning spark to tie the game out at Hoyne. An early Loyola error helped lead to the bases loaded with no outs leaving the door open for Pantoja's RBI single to plate the first run. Castro followed up with a sac fly before the Ramblers retired the final two batters.
 
The Ramblers locked down in the seventh not allowing a base runner and turned to the bottom frame for the sweep.
 
Nat Lesnicki took advantage as a pinch hitter singling to start the inning. Bieneman and Wallace helped load the bases with a single and walk. Barnett continued her hot streak with a deep fly ball to right field. Katie Mitchell was able to tag up and score for the 3-2 walk-off for Loyola.
 
Inside the Box Score
- The Ramblers tallied four hits by four different players.
- Sopczak, Bieneman, and Barnett had an RBI each.
- Andie Broniewicz improved to 8-7 overall with six strikeouts.
 
Up Next
Loyola goes for the series sweep Sunday at 12 pm.