LEADING OFF 
Loyola Chicago (12-26, 7-7 A-10) welcomes Dayton for an Atlantic 10 clash featuring a doubleheader on Saturday, April 12 at 12 and 2 p.m. then the closer on Sunday, April 13 at 12 p.m. The Ramblers have their annual Home Run Derby after Sunday's game with proceeds from the $1 cash only pitches benefiting Cal's Angels.  

QUICK HITS 

• In a midweek doubleheader against Saint Louis on Wednesday, April 9, Loyola had its third game this season with 12 hits and eighth overall with double-digit hitting in the opening game. Riley Owens and Skyler Croker marked season-highs with three hits apiece, and it was a career-high for the sophomore Croker.   
• Senior pitcher Peyton Pepkowski was named the back-to-back A-10 Pitcher of the Week on Monday, April 6 for the second time this season and seventh overall in her career.   
• Pepkowski pitched her second complete-game shutout this season in the St. Bonaventure series opener, allowing four hits and striking out a season-high 11 batters. In the closer, she stranded the Bonnies' tying run in the seventh inning to seal the complete-game win in a 115-pitch performance, allowing just three hits and one earned run while retiring eight.  
• Junior outfielder Sierra Sass leads the team in hits (35), and at the plate with a .380 BA. Maddy Hickey is the team leader in RBIs (18) and on-base percentage (.443), and tied for first with Alli Pawlowicz in home runs (4). 
• Pepkowski recorded her 600th career strikeout on March 22 against Saint Joseph's, becoming just the second Rambler in program history to do so. She leads the league with 105 strikeouts so far this season and ranks 46th in the country.   
• Head coach Alicia Abbott clinched her 100th career win in the Maroon and Gold after Loyola defeated St. John's, 2-1, on Feb. 14 in walk-off fashion.      

SCOUTING REPORT 
Dayton is 17-13 overall and 7-4 in A-10 play so far this year. The Flyers currently rank fifth in the league's standings and are coming off a doubleheader sweep against St. Bonaventure. Dayton also swept its opening A-10 series against SLU before going 2-1 at Rhode Island and falling in all three games to George Washington.  

 The Flyers' offense is led by senior outfielder Emma Schutter on a .410 batting average with 41 hits, 31 runs, 16 stolen bases and 15 walks. Sophomore infielder Kirnan Bailey is another offensive spark for the Flyers, averaging .327 at the plate with 33 hits, 19 runs and 11 stolen bases. In the circle, junior pitcher Izzy Kemp (8-4) holds the team low 2.54 ERA with 101 strikeouts over 85.1 innings.  

SERIES HISTORY 
The Ramblers hold the series advantage 16-9 with the Flyers dating back to the first ever matchup in 1985. In Loyola's first season as an A-10 school, the Ramblers won all four meetings against the Flyers in 2023. Last year, Dayton defeated Loyola in all four meetings, including a 2-0 shutout in the conference tournament semifinals.  

FOLLOW THE ACTION 
Stream the games on ESPN+ and follow softball on Instagram and Twitter/X @RamblersSB for in-game updates.