PHILADELPHIA – Loyola Chicago and Saint Joseph's split a pair of games Saturday afternoon on the east coast. The Hawks took game one 2-1, while the Ramblers rallied in game two to win 8-2. Loyola's win at SJU Softball Field marks the first loss for the Hawks on their home turf this season.
 
Loyola improves to 24-21 overall and 13-9 in A-10 play.

"Our offense really stepped up in game two to capture the win," said head coach Alicia Abbott. "Defense was solid all day and our pitchers did well. We need to be able to step up at the plate tomorrow to take the series."
 
Game One: Saint Joseph's 2, Loyola 1
The Ramblers and Hawks battled defensively to start game one. The first hit didn't come until the third when Muhaw singled for the Hawks. Loyola answered with two hits in the fourth, but neither team could find home, and the game remained scoreless.
 
Saint Joseph's finally broke through in the fifth inning. Tauber singled with two outs and was joined on base by a Cancila walk. Both were brought in with a two-run double by Fretz before the inning ended.
 
The Ramblers put the tying run on base in the sixth inning but both runners were left stranded. They were able to plate one in the seventh as Teagan Sopczak led off with a double and would go on to score on a wild pitch. SJU held on to win, 2-1.
 
Inside the Box Score
- The Ramblers tallied five hits.
- Sydney Barnett recorded a team-high two hits.
- Sopczak's double was Loyola's lone multi-base hit.
- Liz Sedakis stole one base.
- Peyton Pepkowski pitched all six innings. She struck out seven batters.
 
Game Two: Loyola 8, Saint Joseph's 2
The Ramblers scored five unanswered runs to spark a game two win. The first two runs came in the second on four hits for Loyola. Sopczak, Riley Owens and Jocelyn Currie strung together three straight singles to spark the offense. Currie's single to center brought in Sopczak, while Owens would score on a single from Sierra Sass two at-bats later.
 
Barnett put another run on the board with a solo home run in the third inning.
 
The fifth opened with Sass's second hit of the game. She was joined on base by Barnett who was walked. Sedakis brought both runners in on a double down the left field line and it was quickly a 5-0 lead for Loyola.
 
The Hawks avoided a shutout in the sixth with a two-run blast from Cancila to get within three. Loyola erased SJU's progress in the seventh with three runs on three hits. The Ramblers retired three straight outs to take a game two win, 8-2.
 
Inside the Box Score
- This marked the first home loss for SJU this season.
- Loyola recorded 13 hits.
- Ava Bieneman, Sedakis, Owens, and Sass tallied two hits each.
- Sedakis led with three RBI.
- Barnett scored twice.
- Haley Wallace, Katie Mitchell, and Sass all had a stolen base.
- Andie Broniewicz tallied the win with five strikeouts over six innings.
- Maddy Hickey tossed the final inning and struck out one.
 
Up Next
Loyola goes for the series win at Saint Joseph's Sunday. First pitch is at 11 a.m. CT.