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Box Score 2 FAIRFAX, Va. - Loyola Chicago (18-30, 13-10 A-10) put together a dominant day on Sunday, April 27 with a doubleheader sweep at George Mason, shutting out the Patriots 8-0 in the first game and coming from behind for a 6-4 victory in the closer. The Ramblers were powered by strong pitching and some big hitting innings, and they clinched their spot in the Atlantic 10 Tournament after the weekend.
"I'm excited by our performance this weekend. I don't think we had it all together but together we had it all. Our pitchers were lights out all weekend and I'm so proud of what they were able to do," said head coach
Alicia Abbott.
Game One: Loyola 8, George Mason 0
In the doubleheader opener, senior pitcher
Peyton Pepkowski fired a complete-game shutout, scattering three hits and striking out eight batters over seven innings. The game was deadlocked through the first five frames then Loyola exploded with five runs in the sixth inning. Senior second baseman
Haley Wallace scored first, thanks to sophomore catcher
Nat Lesnicki's bunt at the plate. Then sophomore infielder
Skyler Croker recorded a three-RBI single, scoring
Sierra Sass, Lesnicki and
Katie Mitchell. The Ramblers did not let up as
Bella Crimaldi added the finishing touches in the seventh, blasting a three-run homer to put the game out of reach for the Patriots.
Inside the Box Score
- Pepkowski (10-19) added her 14th complete-game and her fifth shutout this spring.
- Crimaldi recorded her second home run of the season and a season-high three RBIs.
- Croker and Crimaldi led the game at the plate, going 2-for-3 at bat.
Game Two: Loyola 6, George Mason 4
The Ramblers kept the momentum rolling into the closer despite falling behind 4-0 in the second inning. Loyola responded with a six-run third, sparked by a two-RBI single from Sass to score Crimaldi and Wallace. Moments later, Croker singled and scored freshman
Alli Pawlowicz then two more rookies,
Averi Vander Woude and
Abby Johnson each added RBIs. Sass scored again thanks to Vander Woude's single then Johnson's two-RBI allowed Vander Woude to score after she stole second and Croker added her second run of the day. From the circle, senior pitcher
Andie Broniewicz earned the win with six strong innings and retired three batters before Pepkowski returned to close the door and earn the save, her second of the year.
Inside the Box Score
- Sass led the way with three hits and two RBIs.
- Vander Woude recorded her second two-hit game this season.
- The Ramblers recorded their sixth game of the year with at least 10 hits.
Up Next
The Ramblers host George Washington in their last series of the regular season on May 2-3. Loyola is hosting a free youth clinic after the doubleheader on Saturday and will celebrate its seniors on Sunday.
